In comparison

Interim management and executive search differ fundamentally in their objectives and organisational set-up. Interim management primarily aims to provide short-term leadership expertise to bridge critical situations or implement time-limited transformation tasks.

The focus is on immediate effectiveness: interim managers bring proven operational and strategic skills that can be deployed without lengthy training periods. This form of service provision therefore serves primarily to stabilise, accelerate or realign existing processes, often in contexts with high time and result pressure.

In contrast, executive search is a structured recruitment process aimed at filling management positions with permanent decision-makers on a long-term basis. While interim management is geared towards immediate impact and rapid availability, executive search aims to achieve sustainable management continuity and long-term strategic commitment to the company.

The differences:

Permanent employment versus interim management

	Permanent position	Interim Management
Perspective	long-term	short-term
Legal status	employed	self-employed
Contract	employment contract	temporary contract
Notice period	long	short
Payment	salary; bonus; profitsharing	daily/monthly rate + VAT
extra costs	social security costs; holiday/Christmas bonus	none
Additional services	car; mobile phone; pension insurance; AOP	none
Continued payments	vacation; illness; recreation treatment	none
Start of work	Ø 6 months	Ø 1 – 2 weeks
Average age	Ø 30 – 50 years	Ø 45 – 65 years
Value creation	long	short
Competence	“potential matters”	“experience matters”

The differences:

Traditional consulting versus interim management

	Consulting	Interim Management
Perspective	mid-term	short-term
Legal status	service provider	self-employed
Contract	temporary contract	temporary contract
Notice period	middle	short
Payment	fixed flat rate	daily/monthly rate + VAT
Extra costs	20% on top	none
Additional services	none	none
Continued payments	none	none
Start of work	Ø 1 month	Ø 1 – 2 weeks
Average age	Ø 30 – 50 years	Ø 45 – 65 years
Value creation	short	short
Competence	“expertise/methodology matters”	“experience matters”

The differences:

Permanent employment versus interim management

	Permanent position	Interim Management
Perspective	long-term	short-term
Legal status	employed	self-employed
Contract	employment contract	temporary contract
Notice period	long	short
Payment	salary; bonus; profitsharing	daily/monthly rate + VAT
extra costs	social security costs; holiday/Christmas bonus	none
Additional services	car; mobile phone; pension insurance; AOP	none
Continued payments	vacation; illness; recreation treatment	none
Start of work	Ø 6 months	Ø 1 – 2 weeks
Average age	Ø 30 – 50 years	Ø 45 – 65 years
Value creation	long	short
Competence	“potential matters”	“experience matters”

The differences:

Traditional consulting versus interim management

	Consulting	Interim Management
Perspective	mid-term	short-term
Legal status	service provider	self-employed
Contract	temporary contract	temporary contract
Notice period	middle	short
Payment	fixed flat rate	daily/monthly rate + VAT
Extra costs	20% on top	none
Additional services	none	none
Continued payments	none	none
Start of work	Ø 1 month	Ø 1 – 2 weeks
Average age	Ø 30 – 50 years	Ø 45 – 65 years
Value creation	short	short
Competence	“expertise/methodology matters”	“experience matters”