Interim management.
How interim mandates actually work in Italy: who signs, which roles get covered, what they cost, and how fast an interim manager is in the building.
Direct answer
Interim management means filling a senior operating role with an external executive for a defined period, with full authority and a measurable outcome. The board or shareholder appoints, the manager invoices as a professional, and the mandate ends on the agreed date. Typical start time is two weeks from signature.
Roles
Seats covered by interim mandates.
Interim CEO
Full executive authority, filed as Amministratore Delegato when required.
Read the guide
Interim Managing Director
Country or division leadership, P&L ownership, board reporting.
Read the guide
Interim CFO
Cash, banks, covenants, reporting pack, audit and closing.
Read the guide
Interim COO
Operations, delivery, supply chain and the second management line.
Read the guide
Interim CMO
Demand generation, brand, pricing and marketing spend accountability.
Read the guide
Interim logistics director
Warehouse, transport, inventory and 3PL transitions.
Read the guide
Comparison
Interim management vs the alternatives.
| Dimension | Interim management | Retained search | Consulting firm | Internal promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to start | Two weeks | Three to six months | Three to four weeks | Immediate |
| Authority | Full, time-boxed | Full, permanent | None | Full, permanent |
| Cost shape | Day rate or retainer | 25-35% of first-year package | Team days | Salary uplift |
| Exit | Agreed date | Severance risk | End of project | Hard to reverse |
| Best when | The seat cannot stay empty | The role is structural | You need analysis | The bench is ready |
If you are weighing the search route, read head hunter cost and interim executive search. In Italian the same model is called temporary management.
FAQ
Interim management. Buyer questions.
What is interim management?
Interim management is the practice of filling a senior operating role with an external executive for a defined period, with full authority and a measurable outcome. It is not consulting: the interim manager signs, decides, manages people and owns the numbers until the agreed exit date.
How does interim management work in Italy?
The shareholder or board resolves the appointment and, where a formal title is needed, files powers for Amministratore Delegato or Direttore Generale at the Registro delle Imprese. The manager invoices as a professional with 22% IVA. No employment contract, no severance, no placement fee.
What does interim management cost?
At CEO level, EUR 1,500 to EUR 3,500 per day or EUR 25,000 to EUR 55,000 per month on retainer. Functional roles such as operations or logistics run lower. Compare total engagement cost, not the day rate: a six-month interim mandate usually costs less than a search fee plus a vacant seat.
Which roles are most commonly covered by interim management?
CEO and Managing Director first, then CFO, COO, CMO, plant and supply-chain directors, and country managers for foreign groups entering Italy. The common factor is a role that cannot stay empty while a permanent search runs.
How quickly can an interim manager start?
Two weeks from a signed mandate is normal, days in a crisis. That speed is the whole point of the model: an executive search for the same seat typically takes three to six months before the successful candidate serves notice.
Next step
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