Interim Manager (full time)
I work on-site every day when the situation requires a constant presence, for example, to cover a leadership gap, lead a turnaround, or launch a subsidiary.
Interim Manager in Italy for foreign companies
I establish and lead Italian operations for international companies, serving as an Interim Manager or Fractional Executive.
- For more than five years, I served as the Italy-based manager for foreign groups, including the Italian subsidiary of a German EPC contractor in the photovoltaic industry and a Dutch multinational wholesaler entering the Italian market.
- I bring more than 30 years of management experience, 20 of them in executive roles.
- I work with your headquarters in English or German and act as their link to key stakeholders in Italy, such as customers, suppliers, banks, and advisors.
When foreign companies call me
Foreign companies typically reach out to me in one of these situations:
- Setting up a subsidiary in Italy. The legal entity is in place or has to be set up, and the organization, team, and customer portfolio still need to be built.
- Entering the Italian market. Your products are ready to market, but selling in Italy may require a different approach. The right sales channels need to be identified and developed.
- A sales organization to build or rebuild. Agents, area managers, and internal sales teams operate without coordination, a shared structured approach, or a clear focus on objectives and results. As a result, performance depends too heavily on individuals and is neither predictable nor consistent.
- A turnaround. Results are declining, and the parent company needs someone on the ground to drive the turnaround.
- A reorganization. Roles, processes, and reporting lines no longer reflect how the company needs to operate today, often because the market has changed.
- A leadership gap. The managing director or sales director is leaving, and the subsidiary cannot afford to wait months for a permanent replacement.
What I can do for your Italian company
I don't just advise from the outside. I step into an operational role and take responsibility for it for an agreed period.
Management and results
I lead the Italian operations, or its sales function, working toward objectives agreed with headquarters.
Sales strategy
I turn headquarters' goals into a sales plan for Italy: target customers, channels, and priorities.
Sales organization
I organize and manage the sales network, defining and monitoring channels, processes, and KPIs.
Strategic and operational marketing
I help shape your positioning, offer, sales tools and marketing campaigns for the Italian market.
Recruitment
I help select the right people, hired directly by the company, so the team stays in place when my assignment ends.
Local counterparts and stakeholders
I work with customers, suppliers, banks, accountants, and lawyers in Italy.
Reporting to headquarters
I provide updates in the format and frequency required by the parent company.
Formal responsibilities
Where appropriate, I can serve as a director of the Italian company or represent it as employer under a power of attorney.
Bridging headquarters and Italy
Headquarters needs clear reporting, decisions made on agreed criteria, and a single point of contact in Italy. The Italian market, however, operates on its own terms: business is built on relationships, sales often run through networks of agents and introducers, and rules and practices require local knowledge to navigate effectively.
My role is to bridge the two sides: I report in the way headquarters expects, provide clear visibility into local developments, and make decisions that work in the Italian market, guided by the parent company's objectives and shaped through close communication with local stakeholders.
Two ways to work
Fractional Executive (part time)
Typically two or more days a week, I provide part-time senior management for companies that do not need a full-time executive. Examples include guiding a sales organization or managing market entry alongside the existing team.
In Italy, these roles are generally known as Temporary Manager and Fractional Manager.
Two real-world assignments
Dutch wholesaler of technical aquarium products
Feasibility study for an Italian sales subsidiary
- Situation
- A Dutch company was assessing whether to establish a sales subsidiary in Italy.
- Approach
- Over the course of one year, I analyzed the market, customers, and competitors; compared business models and legal structures; and assessed the practical conditions for growth.
- Outcome
- The logistical conditions required to proceed were not in place, so the project was not taken forward.
Italian subsidiary of a German photovoltaic group
Developing the Italian market and building the sales organization
- Situation
- The Italian subsidiary of a German group needed to develop the Italian market, starting from a fragmented presence.
- Approach
- I built and coordinated the sales organization: preparing marketing plans; recruiting and managing introducers, agents, and area managers; and supporting the network in closing deals.
- Outcome
- An operational sales organization covering the Italian market through agents and area managers.
How an assignment works
Free introductory meeting
We discuss your situation and your main needs, and I give you an initial assessment of the work required.
Proposal
I outline the scope, objectives, expected time commitment, and daily rate in writing.
Agreement
We formalize the engagement and agree on reporting, communication, and the approach with headquarters.
Start
I begin working on site with the team, focusing on the priorities agreed at the start.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take on a formal role in the Italian company?
Yes, where appropriate. I can serve as a director (amministratore) of the Italian company or represent it as employer under a power of attorney, subject to applicable legal requirements and a clear agreement on responsibilities.
Which languages do you work in?
I work with the team and local contacts in Italian, and in English or German with headquarters.
How long does an assignment last?
Assignments typically last from six to eighteen months, depending on the objectives and the situation. The expected duration is outlined in the proposal and reviewed with headquarters as the work progresses.
Interim Manager or Fractional Executive: which one do we need?
If you need someone on-site every day, an Interim Manager is usually the better fit. If you need senior management support a few days a week, a Fractional Executive may be more suitable. The introductory discussion and assessment help identify the best arrangement for your situation.
What is the difference between an Interim Manager and a consultant?
A consultant advises; the company makes and implements the decisions. An Interim Manager takes on an operational role and makes decisions within the agreed mandate, with responsibility for the results.
Is a Temporary Manager the same as an Interim Manager?
Broadly, yes. In Italy, the role is usually called Temporary Manager, while in English-speaking countries, Interim Manager is more common.
Tell me about your Italian operations
Write to me in English, German or Italian.