Case studies
These examples illustrate how interim executives bring specialist expertise to facilitate significant change. Each assignment plays to the interim's strengths and previous experience - minimising risk and leaving lasting value.
From time to time, interims fill an unexpected gap in a management team - but the majority of assignments are planned to help an organisation adjust to changing circumstances and new challenges.
Managing the process
A leading UK bank required immediate top level HR support for two major projects - the sell-off of a non-core domestic business and the turnaround of part of its international operations. An interim specialist supplied within a week by AshtonPenney directed all aspects of the process including introducing efficiency controls and outsourcing reviews for potential new purchasers. The interim executive was subsequently retained to assist in the restructuring of an existing investment banking division.
Turnround management projects
After a major restructuring of its leasing operations, an interim finance director was required to identify and control weaknesses across the business, rebuild a structure, improve morale amongst workforce and develop a growth strategy. This was achieved within a short timescale, ensuring the subsequent smooth transfer of operations to a new finance director who inherited a more clearly defined operating and reporting role within the bank.
Compliance and mentoring
Faced with mounting compliance requirements that were stretching the existing team to its limits, AshtonPenney sourced an interim executive to project manage all end users' business applications and general systems controls to comply with regulatory requirements. As part of the interim's brief, he also ran workshops for training and mentoring the in-house team as well as composing all relevant documentation, flowcharts and operational controls to support the business.
Reducing costs and delivering efficiency
To enable a major European Bank to reduce back office processing costs, an interim specialist was required to produce a technical, financial and business project plan to establish centralisation. After preparing the business for implementation, the interim project manager consolidated operations and tested the system to the required standard. As well as developing a new team structure, before he left he put in place the requisite quality and service testing systems.