Boyden global executive search

Summer 2008

 

Welcome to the Boyden Interim Management summer newsletter

One of our key aims at Boyden is to develop and maintain strong relationships and lines of communication with you our clients, continuously updating our knowledge of your needs and feeding back to you latest trends, information and data on the Interim Management marketplace.

 

In this edition, we will be covering the following areas:

1: Who we are and how we can help you

2: Rising trend in Interim Management in times of economic uncertainty

3: Forthcoming seminars and networking events

 

Who we are and how we can help you

Boyden is a global Executive Resourcing business. Founded in 1946, we now have over 70 offices worldwide in more than 40 countries.

 

Boyden UK, offers a holistic, end to end executive resourcing solution, delivering both Executive Search and Interim Management services to our clients, both here in the UK and also on a global basis. The whole ethos of the Boyden business model is centred on service, both for our clients and our candidate partners.

 

Our Interim Management team is led by Patrique Habboo, an industry veteran, who led the growth of Praxis Executives from 1999, before launching Execbank in 2006 and merging it with Boyden in 2008. As well as successfully delivering numerous Interim Management assignments, he has written several articles on the subject in addition to featuring as a guest speaker at The Interim Manager of the Year Awards, The London School of Economics and other industry events.

 

A key differentiator is that Boyden works only with a small group of highly experienced Interim Managers – the top 10% - allowing for genuine relationship and knowledge building and adding value to all sides of the Interim Management triumvirate - client, Interim Manager and us as Interim Management providers.

 

Our objective is to deliver rapid, right first time solutions, every time.o

 

Cometh the hour, Cometh the Interim

 

The rising trend in Interim Management

in uncertain economic times

 

If ever there was a time for the Interim Manager, this is it.

 

Economic uncertainty has turned the corporate searchlight towards a solution that injects specialised know-how, achieves change and is both time- and cost-effective.

 

Sounds too good to be true? Not if your competitors are already gaining ground in this increasingly competitive market.

 

“Business leaders who proactively include Interim Management in their resource options are at an immediate advantage,” says Tim Blackstone, Partner at Boyden Interim Management. “With pressure on expenditure and overheads, Interim Managers are an effective means by which organisations can achieve results despite economic turbulence and a slow market for permanent hires”.

 

Gaining specialised know-how

As companies strive to adapt to a deteriorating outlook, many require an injection of know-how not usually required in the business. Interim Managers with expertise in specific areas such as IT, HR, marketing, finance, logistics and operations are the ideal short-term solution. A key part of an Interim’s role is to transfer expertise and structure the right team for the future. The vast majority of Interim Managers worked through the recession in the 1990s – they know how to weather a downturn and prepare for the upturn.

 

Achieving change

Interim Managers offer three defining advantages in achieving change: first, they are objective; second, they are independent; and third, short-term change is their currency.

 

The skills and experience needed to effect rapid change are not generally required on a permanent basis, but are central to the work of an Interim. These managers have proven track records in the management of transition and change and are experienced in a wide range of sectors and cultures, working on an intensive, project basis. The brief is well-defined, implementation swift and the results quantifiable.

 

Beating time

In today’s climate it is increasingly difficult to hire executives who are, for instance, reluctant to move and mis-time a potential redundancy package, or increase their career risk by changing jobs. An Interim Manager can be in place within a week of a client briefing and is engaged for six or seven months, or longer if necessary.

 

Securing cost efficiencies

Interim Managers, typically at a third of the cost of a consultant, are highly cost effective. The independent Interim brings with him/her neither the costs nor the agenda of a large consulting organisation. Interim Managers invariably pay for themselves very quickly, with change management or costs driven out of the business leading to bottom line results.

 

Tim Blackstone concludes,

“Competition is growing and as CEOs, CFOs and HR Directors recognise the advantages of Interim Managers and we expect the call on this resource to reach an all time high”.

 

The bottom line on Interim Management – our industry

• The advantages are becoming clear, particularly in today’s climate – growth rates of over 15 percent a year are forecast in the interim industry.

 

• The flexibility and value of Interims is increasingly recognised – organisations that include Interims as resource option have a competitive advantage.

 

• Interim Managers are very often a non-headcount resource. They are independent, experienced and prepared to be geographically mobile.

 

The bottom line for Interim resources – our clients

• Plan for an interim resource as you would for a permanent resource and work to a faster cycle. Preparing in this way means that when a manager is needed for a certain date, they will be there.

 

• Looking ahead helps to secure the best Interim Managers to add value and make a difference. Competition for the best executives in this market is no less fierce than in the permanent world.

 

• The best Interims work with the best firms - know the market.

 

Collar the Interim world – act today and see results tomorrow 

 

Forthcoming seminars and networking events

Boyden UK hosts regular thought leadership seminars and networking events for our clients which cover a range of topical business issues, delivered by high profile guest speakers.

 

Recent events have included John Jackson, Chairman of Virgin, speaking about the role of the NED, and Neil Roden, Group HR Director of RBS, talking about the integration of ABN AMRO into RBS.

 

If you would like to know more about these events or to be invited please contact Kate Gerhard at kate@boyden.uk.com.