Interim executive search.
Five ways boards find interim executives, what each one costs, how long it takes, and how to assess an operator in a single meeting.
Direct answer
Interim executive search is the process of appointing a senior executive for a fixed-term mandate instead of a permanent seat. Providers typically add a 20% to 40% margin on the day rate and present profiles within a week. Engaging a known operator directly removes the margin and starts inside two weeks.
Five routes
Where interim executives actually come from.
- 01
Specialist interim providers
Fastest structured route. Deep benches, a margin of 20% to 40% on the day rate, and an account manager between you and the operator.
- 02
Retained search firms
Built for permanent roles. Some run interim desks, but the economics and the timeline still follow the permanent playbook.
- 03
PE operating partners
Free, fast and honest if you are in a fund's network. Limited to profiles the fund already knows.
- 04
Board and investor referral
Highest hit rate on culture and trust. Depends entirely on who your directors know.
- 05
Direct to a known operator
No margin, no intermediary, no shortlist theatre. You assess one person deeply instead of four superficially.
The money
Provider margin vs direct engagement.
| Dimension | Via interim provider | Direct to the operator |
|---|---|---|
| Day rate to the manager | EUR 2,000 | EUR 2,000 |
| Intermediary margin | 20-40%, roughly EUR 52k-104k | None |
| Who you negotiate with | Account manager | The person doing the job |
| Time to first profile | Five to ten days | Same-week call |
| Scope and price in writing | After the shortlist | Within 48 hours |
| Contract counterparty | The provider | The executive |
For permanent search economics see head hunter cost and the alternatives to retained search. For the Milan market specifically, executive search in Milan.
FAQ
Interim search. Fees and timing.
What is interim executive search?
Interim executive search is the process of finding and appointing a senior executive for a fixed-term mandate rather than a permanent seat. It runs in days rather than months, is decided by the board or shareholder, and is priced as a day rate or retainer instead of a percentage of first-year pay.
How do interim executive search firms charge?
Most bill a margin on top of the manager's day rate, commonly 20% to 40%, invoiced for the whole mandate. On a six-month CEO mandate at EUR 2,000 a day, a 30% margin adds roughly EUR 78,000. Engaging the operator directly removes that layer entirely.
How long does an interim executive search take?
A specialist interim provider will present shortlisted profiles within a week and can have someone on site inside two to three weeks. Going direct to a known operator compresses that to a call, a written scope within 48 hours, and a start within two weeks.
Should I use an interim provider or hire the executive directly?
Use a provider when you need several interim roles at once, a function you cannot assess yourself, or procurement rules that require a supplier. Go direct when you already know or can quickly assess the operator and want the full day rate to reach the person doing the work.
How do I assess an interim executive in one meeting?
Ask for the last three mandates with the entry situation, the decisions taken and the number that moved. Ask what they did in the first fourteen days. Ask what they would not take on. Vague answers about transformation and stakeholder alignment are the red flag.
Next step
Skip the shortlist. Assess one operator.
Thirty minutes on the call, written scope and price within 48 hours, on the ground within two weeks.