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.
Delivering supply chain improvements
AshtonPenney Interim provided an interim supply chain director to a bottled water company. After successfully implementing major supply chain improvements in the UK -deliveries up to 99+% rft and inventory cut by a third - he extended these practices across France, Germany and Italy.
Integration of new businesses
A client acquired three companies that delivered mainly discounted books to offices for the staff to buy. To a demanding brief, AshtonPenney
Interim provided an interim General Manager to integrate the companies and generate savings in the first year of over 40% of turnover while increasing sales.
Freeing up internal resources
An interim HR executive was provided to review all company policies and procedures, leaving the staff HR director free to concentrate on developing HR strategies. Where actions could be taken immediately, they were implemented; where changes needed to be brought in over a period of time, a 'roadmap' was provided for staff to implement after the interim executive's assignment period had ended.
Integrating and delivering consistent business practices
An interim finance director was provided to manage the process of changing a group of companies' accounts from differing periods and accounting practices to one of the same accounting periods and US accounting practice. The process was delivered swiftly and effectively, generating immediate savings but also clear visibility and comparability between the constituent companies.
Strategic review and project management
One of AshtonPenney Interim's clients had a company-wide IT project which had gone seriously over budget and time frame and which had lost credibility in the eyes of the company staff. An interim IT director, with excellent project management skills, was provided who evaluated the situation, set a revised budget and timing, and then delivered the project exactly to those new parameters. Close attention was paid to UAT to ensure that the staff achieved the full benefits of the new system.
Delivering sales
In discussions with a new client, AshtonPenney Interim ascertained that the key area where an interim sales director would need to focus was in National Accounts (major customer management). An interim executive with particular strengths in this area was sourced, resulting in the client's listings and presence increasing in nearly all the major accounts' range reviews. This was due both to the direct influence of the interim executive and to his mentoring of the staff national account managers.