Engagement
How an interim CEO engagement works.
Brief
Defined start. Defined exit. Four phases between them.
What is the engagement model?
Full-time interim CEO or fractional CEO depending on the situation. Engagement letter signed with the board or majority shareholder. Single point of accountability. Monthly retainer or day rate. Clear mandate, clear exit conditions.
Timeline
A typical six-month mandate. Compressed for crisis, extended for full turnarounds.
01 . Weeks 1-2
Assess
On the ground. Read the numbers. Meet the team, customers, lenders and key shareholders. Write the 100-day plan with the board.
02 . Weeks 3-6
Stabilise
Cash, commercial pipeline, top of org. Stop the bleeding. Set weekly cadence and a single source of truth for reporting.
03 . Weeks 7-20
Execute
Deliver the value-creation or turnaround plan. Hire or replace where needed. Move the metrics that matter.
04 . Final 4 weeks
Hand over
Recruit and onboard the permanent CEO. Transfer relationships, files and rhythm. Stay available for 30 days after exit.
Who does the interim CEO report to?
The board, the controlling shareholder or the lead PE partner. One reporting line. Weekly written update, monthly board meeting, ad hoc on material events.
How does the exit and handover work?
The exit is part of the mandate from day one. The interim CEO either hands to a successor recruited during the engagement or to the new owner after a transaction. Thirty-day post-exit availability is included.
Process questions
How the engagement runs, week by week.
How do I hire an interim CEO in Italy?
Three steps. A 30-minute intro call to size the mandate. A written scope, day rate or retainer and start date within 48 hours. Signature and start on site within one to two weeks. No RFP, no lengthy procurement.
How fast can an interim CEO actually start?
One week from signed scope for planned mandates. Faster for crises: 72 hours is possible when the board is aligned and the paperwork moves in parallel.
What contract governs the engagement?
An engagement letter with the operating entity or the holding, or a service agreement with the interim CEO's Italian entity. Mandate, authority limits, fees, notice, confidentiality and IP are defined in writing before the start date.
Can the interim CEO be appointed as legal representative or amministratore delegato?
Yes when the board wants full statutory authority in Italy. The alternative is a procura with defined limits. Both are common. The board picks the shape it needs.
How is progress reported to the board and shareholders?
A weekly written update to the reporting line, a monthly board pack with a stable KPI tree and cash view, ad hoc calls on material events. One source of truth, in English, executed in Italian.
What happens at handover to the permanent CEO?
The successor is briefed on the plan, the team, the numbers, the top customers and the board dynamics. Files, credentials and relationships are transferred. The interim CEO stays available for 30 days after exit at no extra cost.