Steadying Operations During Leadership Transition at a Multicultural Support Organisation
The Brief
Future Leadership’s Interim Executive team was engaged by a leading multicultural support organisation to assist with the urgent appointment of an Interim Chief Operating Officer (COO).
The current incumbent in the role unexpectedly had to travel internationally to manage a personal crisis, creating an immediate need for a hands-on operations leader with expertise in finance, HR, and business operations. The ideal candidate needed a strong background in the not-for-profit or charity sector.
Increase in General Management Skills
According to the American Management Association, only 14% of businesses consider themselves “well prepared” to handle a sudden loss in senior management. Add to that the fact that it takes at least four months to fill an executive role, and an Interim Executive experienced in operations makes a lot of sense!
Increase in Customer Experience Skills
These days experience is everything. What truly makes for a good experience? Speed. Convenience. Consistency. Friendliness. And human touch. Our Interim Executives deliver a great experience while improving your customer experience!
Increase in People & Culture Skills
Organisations are constantly changing as they respond to internal and external pressures. Continual process improvement can enable team engagement and lead to growth. Interim Executives bring fresh eyes and effective industry best practice to the execution.
Increase in Data Analytics
Complex challenges require critical thinking and in the age of information-overwhelm it is imperative to have analytical minds at the table. These skills range across finance, data science, systems and more. An Interim Executive can be the right person to optimise your inputs to maximise your output.
The Process
With tight timelines in place, the Interim Executive team screened their extensive database and quickly produced a list of potential candidates who could be a good fit for the role.
Interviews were scheduled within the week, and the selected Interim Chief Operating Officer was identified as the best candidate. The chosen candidate was an experienced senior executive with a track record in developing and transforming key business areas, including operations, HR, customer experience, quality and continuous improvement, strategic risk management, knowledge management, service model redesign, research, and innovation. Their comprehensive experience and skill set made them the right fit to fulfill this crucial appointment.
Emerging Capabilities
Operations Management
Expert in overseeing and optimising business operations to ensure efficiency and effectiveness across all functional areas.
Finance
Skilled in managing financial resources, budgeting, and aligning financial strategies with organisational goals.
Manufacturing Process Improvement
Adept at identifying and implementing process improvements to enhance operational efficiency in production settings.
Risk Management
Experienced in assessing and mitigating risks, ensuring organisational stability and compliance with industry standards.
Business Process Improvement
Proficient in refining business processes to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
The Outcome
The Interim COO commenced in the role within two weeks of the Interim Executive team receiving the brief.
A speedy handover was completed with the incumbent, allowing the new COO to take over the reins efficiently. The client was pleased with the work performed by the Interim COO and extended the appointment to work on additional projects.
