What Is an Interim CEO?
An interim CEO is an experienced chief executive who assumes full operational and strategic responsibility for an organization for a limited period of time.
Unlike a permanent CEO, an interim CEO is engaged with a clear mandate: stabilize the business, lead through transition, and prepare the organization for its next phase of leadership. They are not placeholders. They are accountable operators brought in to act when the cost of inaction is too high.
Interim CEOs operate with full authority. They lead teams, make decisions, work closely with boards and investors, and own outcomes while a longer-term solution is identified or implemented.
Key distinctions include:
- Interim CEO vs Full-Time CEO
Interim roles are temporary but full-time. Full-time CEOs are permanent hires. - Interim CEO vs Fractional CEO
Interim CEOs are intensive and time-bound. Fractional CEOs provide part-time, ongoing leadership.
In practice, companies often bring in an interim CEO following a sudden departure or board intervention to stabilize the organization and lead a disciplined transition to permanent leadership.
What Does an Interim CEO Do?
The scope of an interim CEO’s responsibilities is driven by urgency and context, but the work typically concentrates in a few critical areas.
Stabilize Leadership and Operations
- Assume immediate responsibility for executive leadership
- Restore clarity around priorities, decision-making, and accountability
- Maintain continuity across teams, customers, and partners
Lead Through Transition
- Manage restructuring, turnaround, or transformation initiatives
- Support organizational and leadership change
- Rebuild confidence internally and externally
Align With Board and Investors
- Act as the primary executive interface with the board
- Provide clear communication and reporting during transition
- Ensure alignment on goals, timelines, and success criteria
Prepare for the Next Phase
- Assess organizational strengths, gaps, and risks
- Build transition plans and leadership documentation
- Support the search, onboarding, and handoff to a permanent CEO
An effective interim CEO leaves the organization more stable, more aligned, and better positioned than they found it.
Understanding Different Executive Leadership Approaches
During periods of uncertainty, organizations often evaluate multiple leadership models.
Interim Executive Leadership
- Full-time authority and accountability
- Short-term, transition-focused engagement
- Designed for urgency, stability, and risk management
Fractional Executive Leadership
- Part-time, ongoing involvement
- Designed to complement existing leadership
- Focused on long-term scale and execution
Advisory and Consulting Support
- Strategic guidance without decision authority
- Limited involvement in execution
- Best suited for narrow or defined initiatives
An interim CEO is most effective when leadership gaps create immediate risk and demand full-time executive ownership.
Benefits of Hiring an Interim CEO
Interim CEOs provide experienced leadership when timing and certainty matter most.
Key benefits include:
- Immediate access to seasoned executive leadership
- Full-time focus during periods of transition
- Reduced disruption and organizational uncertainty
- Clear accountability while long-term decisions are made
When Should a Company Hire an Interim CEO?
An interim CEO is typically the right choice when:
- A CEO exits unexpectedly or under pressure
- The company is undergoing restructuring or turnaround
- A merger, acquisition, or integration creates leadership complexity
- Investors or boards require experienced oversight during transition
- A permanent CEO search would take too long and delay action
From a fund perspective, interim CEOs are often deployed to protect value and maintain momentum across portfolio companies during periods of instability.
Interim CEO vs Alternatives
- Interim CEO vs Fractional CEO
Interim CEOs are full-time and short-term. Fractional CEOs provide part-time, ongoing leadership. - Interim CEO vs CEO Coach or Advisor
Advisors guide. Interim CEOs lead, decide, and are accountable for outcomes. - Interim CEO vs Founder-Led Leadership
Interim CEOs step in when founders step back or exit. Founder-led models often lack capacity during crisis or transition.
Why Choose SIZE for Interim CEO Support
Interim CEO engagements demand judgment, credibility, and speed. SIZE is built to deliver all three.
- Rapid access to experienced chief executives
- Deep alignment with founders, boards, and investors
- A network designed to step into complex situations with confidence
Work With an Interim CEO Today
Leadership gaps at the top require decisive action. An interim CEO provides immediate stability and experienced leadership when organizations cannot afford uncertainty.
Book a Call to discuss interim CEO leadership support with SIZE.