Corporate Finance
Scenario
Interim IT management
Situation
The client is a major player in the provision of finance for annual insurance premiums and other payments. It commissioned a Charteris consultant to undertake a short, independent study of the way in which IT supported one of its sales divisions. One key recommendation was to recruit an interim development manager with high calibre project management and personal skills to support the incumbent employee in that role.
Charteris Role
Charteris conducted a short study of how the IT department of a corporate finance organisation supported the business, and this led to Charteris being asked to provide the interim manager for an IT development team. He held this post for six months until a permanent employee was recruited. The consultant was later promoted to managing the client's entire development organisation which consisted of some 35 permanent and contract staff. Overall, the engagement lasted just over one year.
The client accepted the report's recommendations, and as a separate decision, contracted the services of one of Charteris most experienced consultants into the interim management position. The consultant was in post for six months, making a highly visible difference to the rate of achievement of his teams deliverables, and, equally importantly, to the team's morale and service commitment to the sales division.
The client successfully recruited a permanent employee to fill the consultant's position, but meanwhile the client's senior development manager resigned, as he was going overseas to get married.
Despite the availability of internal candidates, the Charteris consultant was then promoted into the newly vacant more senior position while a replacement development manager was recruited.
Solution
The assignment was successful because the consultant was able to fit quickly into the client's existing management structure and culture. He initially provided support and counselling to the incumbent manager, and then moved into his role while the first replacement was being recruited.
During his time in the interim role, the consultant demonstrated such an understanding of the client environment that, when the more senior vacancy arose, he was again appointed as the interim manager and continued in this role for a further six months until the permanent senior development manager was successfully recruited.