Odgers Berndtson, a leading executive search firm with more than 60 offices worldwide, has launched its global interim management arm – Odgers Interim – in Boston and New York, following unprecedented demand for senior leaders working on an interim basis across the US.
With offices in London, Australia, Canada and Brazil, Odgers Interim’s US business will be led by Paul Smith, a UK client partner who has been named managing partner of Odgers Interim US.
The expansion of Odgers Berndtson’s global interim management services into America is in direct response to the growing need from public and private sector organisations for senior interim leadership capabilities across almost every industry and function. These include strategy, corporate development, HR, finance, supply chain, marketing & sales, IT and cybersecurity. In particular, there are notable opportunities for interim CFOs due to the cross-sector need for high-quality, rigorous senior financial expertise.
“An accelerated pace of business and a pressing need to manage significant levels of market disruption in the US is driving both large and middle market companies, as well as other professional institutions including healthcare, to seek highly-experienced senior leaders who can parachute into organisations on demand,” said Paul Smith. “These professionals are increasingly sought after because of their hard-to-find expertise in areas such as transformation program delivery, M&A and carve-out work, and as ‘steady-hands-on-the-tiller’ to manage functional leadership vacuums.”
Odgers Berndtson will offer interim managers as both stand-alone resourcing service and in conjunction with its permanent executive recruiting. Utilising the network of clients across its 14 US offices, Odgers Berndtson will be able offer interim managers nationwide.
Smith added: “In particular, our US private equity, financial services, and healthcare clients are looking for a more agile approach to securing senior level skillsets. In addition to being able to plug the three-to-four-month period of absence during the search for a permanent executive, interim managers are attractive because of their unique blend of strategic direction and hands-on implementation that means they can solve problems from day one.”
The growing marketplace for interim managers across the US comes at a time of exceptional growth for Odgers Berndtson.
Steve Potter, CEO of Odgers Berndtson US, said: “As one of the only top six search firms in the US with a dedicated interim capability, Odgers US is thrilled to gain this key competitive advantage. Our nationwide network of clients across 14 offices can now draw from Odgers Interim’s global pool of interim managers. Paul and the rest of the Odgers Interim team are an important addition and will be a major factor in the continued growth of Odgers Berndtson US.”
Earlier this year Odgers Interim celebrated its 20th anniversary. Fiscal year 2018/2019 was its most successful financial year to date, reporting in excess of £50 million and, since 2014, a 53 per cent increase in revenues.
