Leadership at the top, time-boxed
Interim CEO and Interim COO
When the top seat is empty or operations are slipping: we step in as interim CEO or COO within days, with full P&L and execution accountability.
In short
An interim CEO is a senior chief executive placed for a defined period to cover a vacancy, steady the company or lead a critical phase, carrying strategy, P&L and execution. An interim COO does the same for operations, delivery and cash. We do this as operators who have run companies and led a turnaround, not as advisors.
When to hire an interim CEO or COO
The recurring triggers:
- A sudden CEO or MD departure with no successor ready.
- A transition: post-acquisition, a new fund, a generational handover.
- A crisis or stall where decisions must be made fast.
- Operations out of control where delivery, process or cash block progress, the interim COO case.
Interim CEO or interim COO
The interim CEO holds the whole company: strategy, board alignment, priorities and P&L. The interim COO steps in where the constraint is execution: delivery, process, cash and organisation. In both we sit in the seat and answer for the result, we do not advise from outside. If you are weighing the move, our guide on how to hire an interim CEO walks through the decision.
How much does an interim CEO cost?
An interim CEO typically costs EUR 1,200 to 2,500 per day, or EUR 18,000 to 45,000 per month full-time, for a mandate of 6 to 12 months. There are no recruitment fees, no equity and no severance. We prefer to tie a meaningful part of the fee to the result. See our full breakdown of how much an interim CEO costs, and how an interim CEO compares with a fractional CEO.
How to choose and hire an interim CEO
Choose an interim CEO on proven results in your exact situation, real availability to start within days, and the discipline to hand over cleanly. The brief, the authority and the exit matter more than a polished CV. Our guides on how to hire an interim CEO and how to choose an interim CEO walk through the process step by step.
The experience we bring
This is not advisory from someone who has only watched. As CMO of LeoVegas we ran a EUR 120M marketing budget, generated over EUR 50M of incremental revenue in under twelve months and lifted EBITA by 18 percent, work that helped drive the MGM acquisition and an exit above EUR 607M. Earlier, leading an Italian market, we took revenue from EUR 3M to EUR 18M in under a year.
We have also led a turnaround as CEO: we know how to decide when every option costs.
You can also read more about our interim and fractional leadership mandates at Fractional Manager.
How we start
Objective, authority and exit agreed with the board from day one.
We take hold of numbers, priorities and key people. No vacuum.
We stabilise, decide and drive to the agreed objective.
We prepare the permanent leader and hand over cleanly.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What is an interim CEO?
A senior chief executive placed for a defined period to lead the company, with full responsibility for strategy, P&L and execution, until a permanent hire is in place.
What is the difference between interim CEO and interim COO?
The interim CEO leads the whole company; the interim COO focuses on operations, process and delivery. You choose by the main constraint.
How quickly can you step in?
Typically within days of agreeing the mandate with the board.
Do you work with private equity?
Yes, often in post-acquisition or acceleration phases driven by an investor.
How long does the assignment last?
Usually six months to about a year, with an exit date set at the start.
What is an on-demand interim CEO?
An on-demand interim CEO is a former C-level operator you can put in the seat within days, for a defined mandate, without a months-long executive search. With Action Is Now we deploy on-demand: diagnose in the first week, take the decisions the business needs and stay accountable for the result through the transition.
When should I hire an on-demand interim CEO instead of running a search?
Hire on-demand when the cost of waiting is higher than the cost of acting: a sudden CEO exit, a stalled turnaround, a PE-backed reset, a critical board commitment. An on-demand interim CEO buys you speed and seniority now, and buys the board time to run the permanent search properly.
Tell us the goal. We make it happen.
We deploy senior operator firepower and produce massive results. No excuses, just results.
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