Your CFO resigns, an acquisition consumes all management time, or growth spirals out of control. Recruitment would take six months, and you don’t have six months.
You don’t need another slide deck. You need someone who walks through the door and has handled the same situation before.
An interim manager is an experienced executive who fills a key role in a company for a fixed term—for example, during a transition, crisis, or recruitment period. They have line management authority and accountability for results. Interim managers are also known as rental managers.
A consultant leaves recommendations on the table and walks away. An interim manager stays and does the work. Most have been in the same situation before—many multiple times—so onboarding doesn’t take months.
| Interim manager | Consultant | Recruited executive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | Days | Weeks | 3–9 months |
| Accountability for results | Yes, in line capacity | No, advises | Yes |
| Commitment | Fixed-term | Project | Indefinite |
| Payment | Days worked | Project or hours | Salary, benefits, recruitment fee |
The most common reason is an unexpected departure. When an executive resigns, the role can’t remain vacant throughout the entire recruitment process.
A key person resigned: here is how to handle the next 90 days →
An acquisition, restructuring, system overhaul, or new market. No one in-house has done it before, and now you need someone who has.
A growth company needs an experienced leader, but there’s no room for a full-time hire yet. A part-time interim manager brings the experience without the full salary.
An interim period shows what the role actually requires before you hire a permanent executive.
| Role | Typical situation | |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer | Acting CEO, turnaround, ownership change | Interim CEO → |
| Chief Financial Officer | CFO departure, funding round, acquisition | Interim CFO → |
| Chief HR Officer | Change negotiations, organizational change | Interim HR → |
| Sales Director | Sales turnaround, new market | Interim Sales Director → |
| Marketing Director | Brand refresh, launch | Interim Marketing Director → |
| Chief Technology Officer | ERP or system project, integration | Interim CTO → |
| Other roles | Communications, project, and IT directors | Get in touch → |
A risk-free way to get top talent now and hire them later.
An experienced expert or team to increase your business value.
You only pay for days worked, and billing occurs once a month. There are no recruitment fees or fixed monthly charges.
The price depends on the role, the situation, and how many days a week the expert is needed. We will provide this after the assessment, before you commit to anything.
Many sell profiles, processes, and promises. Polished CVs don’t change a company, though. A company changes when the right person steps in exactly when they’re needed most.
When the situation hits, you only need to remember one name. We take ownership from the first call until the assignment is completed. We don’t disappear after the contract is signed.
Each of our partners has led a company and solved the same challenges you’re facing now. That’s why we understand your situation immediately, and our executives can be thrown straight into the deep end.
You deal directly with the partners handling your search. No middlemen or unnecessary bureaucracy, and you always know where things stand without having to ask.
We don’t sell processes for the sake of the process. We cut out the steps that don’t benefit you and only use your time for what moves the assignment forward.
Cherry’s partners have themselves led top companies across different industries. Two of them interview every manager before they’re invited into the pool. So when we propose someone to you, we know who we’re talking about: a person with miles, scars, and judgment behind them.
Through WIL Group’s partner offices, we also find candidates abroad. Our clients include Aspo, Indoor Group, Lehtipiste, Meko, Reaktor, Resand, and Snellman.
“Cherry’s flexible interim agreement was an excellent solution for us as a growth company.”
Interim means temporary. An interim manager is therefore a temporary manager who fills a key role for an agreed period—for example, until a permanent manager starts or a transition is completed.
We don’t manage an anonymous mass but a select group of interim executives. Each one has been met, interviewed, and assessed for both competence and cultural fit. You’re shown only those we truly believe are right for your specific situation.
Yes. Both terms refer to a fixed-term executive who handles a key role with line responsibility for an agreed period. Rental manager is an older term, while interim manager is more common.
You’ll receive a proposal typically within 48 hours: 2–4 carefully selected candidates. You meet them and can decide on a start date as early as next week.
Yes. In Cherry’s Pinterim model, the interim period also serves as a probationary period. Cherry Pinterim →
No. For example, two or three days a week works well for a growth company or a defined project.
You only pay for days worked, and billing occurs once a month. The price depends on the complexity of the task and the workload. We will provide this after a free assessment. What does the cost consist of →
A free assessment takes about half an hour. After that, you will know what kind of expert suits your situation, when they can start, and what it will cost.
In a hurry? Call any of us directly.
Ilari Kallio040 070 5050
Petri Kujala040 076 7767
Samppa Seppälä050 568 0533
Sampo Salmi050 386 6565Are you an interim manager yourself? Apply for the Cherry Pool →
