Insights
What is a temporary manager?
The clean definition, where the term comes from, and how a temporary manager differs from a consultant, an interim manager and a contractor.
In short
A temporary manager is an experienced executive brought into a company for a defined period, typically six to eighteen months, to hold a management position and deliver a specific result. They are engaged on a contract rather than employed, hold real decision authority, and leave once the mandate is complete.
The definition, and where the term comes from
Temporary management is the term used across Italy and much of continental Europe for what the UK and US call interim management. The substance is the same: a senior operator takes a role for a set period, with authority and accountability, and hands it back.
The distinguishing feature is not the length of the contract. It is that the temporary manager occupies the position. They sign, decide, hire, cut and are measured on the result, which is what separates them from an adviser who observes the same problem from outside.
How it differs from the alternatives
- Consultant: analyses and recommends, does not hold the role or the decisions.
- Temporary manager: holds the role for a defined period and owns the outcome.
- Fractional manager: same seniority and ownership, but part of the week and usually ongoing.
- Contractor or freelancer: delivers a defined piece of work, not a leadership seat.
- Permanent hire: indefinite, with full employment cost, notice and severance.
The situations that call for one
A sudden departure at the top of a function. A crisis that needs a steady hand with no internal history. A generational handover where the family needs a professional bridge. A market entry, an integration or a systems programme that has no owner. A permanent search that will take six months while the function drifts.
As CMO of LeoVegas we ran a EUR 120M marketing budget and a team of 100+, delivered around EUR 50M of incremental revenue and lifted EBITA by 18 points, work that fed an exit to MGM north of EUR 607M. As managing director of the Italian market we took revenue from EUR 3M to EUR 18M in under a year.
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Frequently asked questions
What does temporary manager mean?
It means a senior executive contracted for a defined period to hold a management role and deliver an agreed result, then hand over. It is the continental European term for interim management.
How long does a temporary management mandate last?
Usually six to eighteen months. Shorter mandates exist for pure cover, longer ones normally mean the role should become permanent.
Is a temporary manager an employee?
No. They work under a professional services contract, which is why there is no notice period, severance or long-term payroll cost.
What does a temporary manager cost?
Typically EUR 800 to EUR 2,500 a day depending on seniority and severity, which is higher per day than an employee and lower in total commitment.
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