Successes - Interim successes

The calibre of the candidates were all high, however, in order to meet the business needs, an IFD was selected and appointed on the interview day to replace a Director who had very recently resigned. The IFD very quickly grasped the scope and extent of the situation and made an immediate and positive impression. 3 months later, the IFD continues to provide, in all respects, a first class service being highly professional, measured and above all effective.

I rate the services provided by Interimconnect as excellent and would have no hesitation in recommending their services to any other small to medium size business."

Brian Warren OBE Chief Exec RASE.

Interim Managers for Baxters Food Group - Jane Neale, Resourcing Manager UK

" I would have no hesitation in recommending the services of the Interimconnect website to any organisation who are seeking an Interim Professional. We had been struggling for some time to source the right calibre of candidates for several interim projects within our Group, but after giving the brief to Mike and discussing the assignment, he was able to put us in touch with several professionals who were able to deliver on the key objectives we were seeking.
The service was speedy, efficient and professional at all times.

Jane Neale, Resourcing Manager UK, Baxters Food Group."

Interim General Manager for part of the Vitecgroup PLC - Joop Janssen Divisional CEO

"The Vitecgroup has been working with the Interimconnect network and especially Mike Measures in the last 3 years. We have been very pleased with their prompt and effective services.

Recently one of our companies was looking for an interim general manager. The job at hand was in a strategic but very niche field.

With the help of Interimconnect we found Colin Whitehead who did an excellent job and created a solid platform for his permanent successor

Joop Janssen
Divisional CEO Vitecgroup Plc"

Interim Sales Manager for DavyMarkham - Kevin Parkin MD

"I am absolutely delighted with the service provided by Interimconnect and feel it to be a breath of fresh air in the recruitment arena. There is always a fear in recruiting at a senior level that candidates are being recommended by some agents because they are an "easy fee" rather than the best fit for your requirements.

The professionalism, speed and efficiency you handled the assignments, the frank assessment of the candidates together with the smooth arrangements of meetings and appraisals is first class.

In future, I will always use the Interconnect Network as my preferred source of candidates and will recommend that other Boards of Directors with who I have associations to consider this unbiased and professional route to recruitment.

With kind regards

Kevin Parkin

Managing Director

DavyMarkham Ltd"

Interim Relocation Project Manager for Star Sportsware - Doug Bedford MD

Nine months into an MBO we were faced with a total business relocation, none of the management team having either the experience or expertise to manage such a major project.

Being part of Interimconnect in a former life, I contacted Mike Measures with a brief for a Project Manager. Within a week we had three very suitable candidates to choose from and the candidate selected was able to start within two/three weeks of the initial contact.

Andrew Jackson, the selected candidate, handled the project with total professionalism and the project ran to time and budget. Andrew's experience and expertise counted for a lot as he was able to smooth a number of issues along the way and keep the project on track.

Doug Bedford
Managing Director
Star Sportswear Ltd

Interim Finance Director- Turnaround - Chairman Printing Company

"I was very pleased with the service Interimconnect offered in regard to the recruitment of an interim FD for a cost led Turnaround.

The time from initial contact to the post-holder in position was 4 working days.

During this period we met to discuss the brief, Interimconnect marketed the role and derived a shortlist, myself and a colleague performed the interviews, the outcome of which was a choice between two suitable candidates, and finally an appointment was made.

Interimconnect had a clear understanding of requirements and the process was professionally performed. I look forward to the next opportunity to work together.

Chairman Printing Company"

Interim Marketing Director

This fast growing company with a young and dynamic Board of Directors recognised the need to bring in an experienced Marketing Professional to shape the marketing function and to launch a new product. Mike Measures visited the company to fully understand the interim requirement before finding available members of the network for the shortlist.

"Firstly may I thank you for your help which has made this easy. Tim is joining us on Wednesday this week ".

Rebekah Mundy HR Director

Turnaround assistance, introduction by member Graham Parcell

The Company was in administration and PwC had asked a team of specialists to manage the business for them and effect a speedy sale as a going concern. The incumbent Sales and Marketing Director chose to leave, however, and so left a large gap. I was able to contact Interimconnect quickly and specify the role and candidate profile. In order to effect a speedy transfer, the specification was quite tight and involved specific industry experience.

The quality of the shortlist given was excellent and speedy in its production. An appointment was made and the job in hand tackled. Graham Parcell

Through the Interimconnect network, Supply Chain. Two assignments.Paul Liversidge. David Brown.

1) The Client (A furniture manufacturer and retailer) had allowed costs to escalate in the warehouse, and stock damage in the warehouse or in transit was too high. The brief was to reduce both costs and stock damage.

The interim manager, Paul Liversidge, reviewed the department to reveal that the area was over manned, unnecessary over time was being worked, and 2 external warehouses being used were not required. Reducing the head count by 2 and controlling the overtime worked resulted in savings of a minimum of £80,000 pa. Coming out of the external warehouses resulted in savings of £100,000 pa.

Working practices had been allowed to develop over time and their interpretation varied from worker to worker. Robust procedures were formalised, walked through and training was given to all warehouse staff, including the handling and storage of stock.

2) A brief received by IC was circulated to all members and the request for an Interim Supply Chain Manager seemed to fit me perfectly.

Within no time at all I was being interviewed and then received a phone call stating that I had been successful. A very simple and efficient process from start to finish.

Due to a recent merger of two companies there was a serious increase in workload within the warehouse and under-efficient processes and staff. The Interim was required to process map the warehouse operations and administration, review the processes and implement improvements to provide a more efficient workflow and minimise resources while taking management responsibility for the department.

Warehouse layout was restyled to enable a smooth workflow reducing wasted walking time and effort while creating greater visibility of order documentation.

Staffing levels were reviewed and reduced by 25% within two months. .

Productivity increased with greater accuracy of pick while reducing the number of enquiries/complaints from field service operations and direct customers. .

KPIs were implemented to enable controlled efficiency monitors and assist in maintaining continuous improvement. .

All in all, a very successful and satisfying assignment.

David Brown

Sales Team Recovery. Introduced by Interimconnect

Interimconnect (IC), was approached by an Interim agency with a brief to find an Interim Sales Manager with experience of turning around sales teams. The Interim agency approached Interimconnect as they were unable to quickly find an available interim manager with the right skill set.

The client (a major FTSE100 company) had recently acquired another business and had integrated the two field sales teams with mixed results. Productivity was down, morale was low, management was not functioning as a team and the current Sales Manager was potentially to be exited. The initial brief was to take over the management of the function replacing the existing manager and either turn it around and recruit a permanent successor or close it down.

The Interim, Simon Cross was introduced by Interimconnect to the interim agency. In the initial meetings with the Client re-scoped the assignment to one of turning the team around while at the same time also mentoring the incumbent manager with a view to keeping him in situ.

3-months later the facts spoke for themselves. Sales productivity had risen from 4 sales per man per week to nudging 20, a new product range has been launched and the incumbent Sales Manager has been confirmed in place.

Helping an Interim Agency. New route to Market, Home Shopping. Martin Dorchester. Sales role

I was contacted by Interimconnect about an assignment for a major European retailer. After attending a number of interviews I am delighted to say not only that I obtained the role but have been offered a number of long term spin off benefits. Interimconnect is a well known and respected body in the interim world and provides an excellent network and showcase for professional interim managers.

Martin Dorchester

"As an interim agency and provider we have used Interimconnect on a number of occasions where we needed to find an interim quickly to strengthen or bolster a short list. We have always found Interimconnect have delivered an excellent service.

London based Interim Agency"

HR/Change Management, Business Planning. Network contact.

I heard through IC of an unadvertised interim assignment generated by an Interimconnect member. This assignment was with one of the new infracos which now make up London Underground prior to their privatisation. The assignment was initially for 3 months but was extended.

I am very grateful to IC for finding this for me and the member who contributed it. Although I am an HR specialist (with many years experience as a HR Director of large multi-site companies ) this role was for Business Planning a new departure for me. This assignment has been a major boost to my confidence at a time when I doubted that I would ever get back into the swim and its pretty good money too!

John Hancox

Start-up. Introduced through the network.

I received details of an Interim Finance assignment through the network. I was delighted that the interview resulted in an assignment. I operate as a Financial Controller and this was with a Start-up e-market/business company funded by a Venture Capitalist.

I took the accounting in-house from a large Consulting Group, agreed cost centres & budgets, set up controls for development expenditures, put controls in place etc.

Dhruv Srivastava

Manufacturing Project Manager .

"I was impressed that Interimconnect really understood the project brief. This meant that we were only introduced to interims that could understood the project deliverables and could quickly add value. Since the Interimconnect member started on assignment the project has really started to move on. "

John Greenfield Operations Director

Advertising under Interim Pages on the Interimconnect site.

Coming near to the end of a contract I clenched my teeth at the wearisome prospect of having to recontact some 60 or so interim & consultancy agencies in the network that I have painstakingly built up over the years. "Dear Sirs, I am item number 123456789 on your database, do you remember me?", only to find out that the person that I had emailed by name had gone backpacking in the Himalayas and been replaced by someone who seemingly cared even less about getting me a new contract!

What a joy to be contacted by xyz Plc. that I had not previously known, and who had FOUND ME for a change. Apparently they required an unusual mix of finance, project management and business skills that had been utilised both in industry and central government, had taken the trouble to search the Interim Connect web pages, and found my web advertisement there, which appeared to fit their spec. Not only that, as the first prospect didn't quite fit they came up with an even better opportunity a week later.

Mike Watkins

Advertising under Interim Pages on the Interimconnect site.

I was contacted at home by the Financial Director and Deputy Managing Director of a major retail chain Plc . It was with regard to an Interim Financial Controllers role within the company for a period of 3 months. After attending an interview I am delighted to report that I started the position in mid January. The timing of the contact could not have been better as I had recently finished a temporary role with an agency.

The contact was made directly from the information provided from my page on the IC website. Prior to this I had been somewhat sceptical about how useful the website might turn out to be with regard to the numbers and type of people looking at the site. I can only imagine that as more people become aware of IC then contacts like this will become more frequent.

Richard Garside