What is the purpose of an Interim Management Company? It’s a hotly debated topic.
None, some would say. According to them, these companies are merely intermediaries between businesses (the clients) and interim managers, taking their commission along the way.
We, of course, strongly disagree with this view.
Interim Management Companies connect with the market
All Interim Management Companies (IMCs) offer significant added value: market access. They possess a structured sales approach, capable of identifying and qualifying assignment opportunities far more effectively and in far greater numbers than independent managers could.
In a sense, independent managers “outsource” their sales approach to IMCs, while clients, in turn, “outsource” the search for the right manager for their specific needs.
This represents, at a minimum, a crucial double added value: connecting the right profiles with the right needs.
They provide legal and financial security
An interim management firm (EMT) also provides legal and financial security for both parties. The service agreement established between the client company and the EMT governs the relationship with both flexibility and rigor.
- For the company: a commercial contract tailored to the context of interim management, far more flexible than a traditional employment contract.
- For the manager: the EMT’s contractual and financial expertise, which secures their involvement and allows them to focus on what matters most: the mission.
This point, often underestimated, remains fundamental.
Mission management: the real difference
But the major added value of an Interim Management Company lies in its ability to manage the assignment.
This is where the difference lies between a simple placement and true support. An Interim Management Company doesn’t just identify a competent manager; it commits to the success of the assignment.
It ensures that:
- Operations progress at the right pace,
- The action plan remains coherent,
- Any deviations are analyzed and corrected in a timely manner.
In other words, it orchestrates the assignment, before and during, to guarantee its coherence and effectiveness.
Hiring a manager alone is simply finding a way. Hiring an Interim Management Company gives you the best chance of achieving your objectives.
The Actiss Africa commitment
The first two dimensions, market connection and contractual security, are now widely shared. But project management remains far less well understood. Yet it is the heart of the business, the most strategic, qualitative, and anticipated aspect.
At Actiss Africa, it is precisely this dimension that sets us apart. Before the assignment: we analyze the context, define the objectives, and outline the deliverables. During the assignment: we monitor progress, coordinate stakeholders, and adjust the action plan.
We fully play our role as project manager and guarantor of success, serving both the client and the manager.
Managing a transition assignment is not something that can be improvised. It requires solid business experience, operational empathy to quickly grasp the challenges, and strong leadership to mobilize both the interim manager and the client company toward a common goal.
This is the whole point of Interim Management as we practice it: a shared commitment, a requirement for results, and a deep conviction that the added value of an Interim Management Company is not measured by the time spent, but by the impact.