Services
03. Interim & Fractional Leadership
Experienced leadership, introduced quickly when you need it most.
At certain moments in a company’s journey, experienced leadership is required quickly rather than permanently.
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This may arise following an unexpected departure, during a period of rapid growth, or in preparation for a transaction or restructuring.
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Through more than two decades of board-level search and advisory work, Ford Hastings has developed a network of experienced leaders who can step into businesses quickly and provide immediate stability.
Why Interim Leadership?
Sometimes the right solution is not an immediate permanent appointment. Bringing in an experienced interim leader can allow organisations to stabilise operations, address specific challenges, and create time to make the right long-term leadership decisions.
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Interim leaders are often engaged to:
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• bridge an unexpected leadership gap
• prepare a business for investment or sale
• strengthen financial reporting and governance
• support rapid growth or operational change
• provide experienced leadership during restructuring
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Assignments typically last three to six months, depending on the situation.
Situations We Commonly Support
Ford Hastings is frequently engaged in situations where experienced leadership is required quickly.​ These often include:
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CFO departure
An unexpected leadership gap requiring immediate financial oversight.
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Transaction preparation
Supporting businesses preparing for investment, sale, or refinancing.
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Rapid growth
Strengthening financial leadership in scale-up environments.
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Post-acquisition stabilisation
Providing experienced leadership following investment or acquisition.
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Financial restructuring
Supporting organisations navigating operational or financial change.
Why Ford Hastings
Unlike many interim providers, Ford Hastings approaches interim leadership through the lens of executive search and board advisory.
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This means we understand not only the technical requirements of the role, but the leadership context in which the individual must operate.
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Our approach focuses on:
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• drawing from a trusted network of experienced leaders
• identifying suitable individuals quickly
• presenting a small number of carefully selected candidates rather than a large volume of CVs
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Because of our deep market knowledge and long-standing relationships, we are able to move quickly while ensuring the individuals introduced are genuinely suited to both the role and the organisation.
How Engagements Typically Work
Interim leaders are typically engaged on a day-rate basis, usually for three to six months.
Ford Hastings supports the introduction process and works closely with clients to ensure alignment around:
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• scope of the role
• expected outcomes
• culture fit
• duration of the engagement
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This approach allows organisations to secure experienced leadership quickly while maintaining flexibility.
Example Interim Roles
Assignments commonly include:
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• Interim finance director
• Interim Financial controller
• Fractional CFO
• Interim Managing Director
• Interim COO / Ops director
• Interim / Fractional Marketing Director ​
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In some cases, this leads to a permanent appointment supported through Ford Hastings’ Leadership Advisory & Search practice.
Chris Pearson
Partner
Chris is an Engineer who started his career with BAE Systems and spent over 20 years in Board Level, Operational and General Management roles in Building Products and Automotive.
Chris led a PE Backed Kitchen and Bathroom Manufacturer through a process of divestment, restructuring and acquisition and then went to lead a Privately Owned Electrical Business through a period of rapid growth and acquisition.
Chris’s experience includes turnaround and restructuring, M&A, and acquisition integration in businesses with sales of £20m to £100m. He also led technology implementations in multiple businesses and has completed transactions in Ecommerce and Technology companies.
20+ years of transactions
Discuss your options
At Ford Hastings, we pride ourselves on a personal and trusted approach. With over 100 transactions supporting both incoming and outgoing management teams and owners, our experience spans growth companies, M&A, MBO/MBI, and turnarounds. We operate quickly, quietly, and professionally, valuing the strength of relationships built with repeat clients over the past 20 years.