The role of an Interim Manager in the Publishing sector

The publishing sector is in the throes of fundamental upheavals which call into question the very foundations of its model.

Faced with a sharp rise in raw materials, a significant reduction in margins, the strong entry of digital technology into the sector, and logistics disrupted by the development of online platforms, the publishing sector is taking the reflex to call on high external skills to pass a milestone.

More and more publishing houses are calling on interim management to define new projects and structure services.

The use of Interim Managers allows publishing houses to benefit from cutting-edge expertise in a resolutely complex sector, which is undergoing a movement of technological revolution.

Find out what an Interim Manager brings to the publishing industry .

Why hire an Interim Manager in publishing?

Publishing houses often call on Interim Managers to deal with internal issues that they cannot solve on their own. The mission entrusted to the manager by the management of the company can be of several orders:

• If a group has to deal with major upheavals such as the arrival of a competitor on the market, the establishment of a high-stakes collection or even the closure of a production site, the use of a transition is often a winning strategy.
• Calling on external high potentials to ensure the transition between two CEOs is also a classic case of recourse to interim management . It is then up to the delegated manager on site to ensure the continuity of the Group under good conditions, by managing the company from a purely operational angle.
• Finally, when a publishing house wishes to redefine a new commercial, editorial or marketing strategy down the line, it is traditional to call on an Interim Manager to clarify the issues, define the project, mobilize skills internally and analyze the results.

What positions does an Interim Manager occupy in the publishing industry?

• The scope of activity of an Interim Manager may include, for example, the definition of a strategy to explore new sales channels.

It is then a question of carrying out an analysis of the various existing channels (market share occupied by online sales compared to physical points of sale) and defining an action plan with the teams of the sector concerned.

The use of interim management can indeed prove to be perfectly suited, for example, to set up a mission such as the digitization of a collection or to define a marketing strategy on online platforms.

• The Transition Manager can also be delegated within the management of a Publishing Group for a mission to lead the sales team: implementation of a commercial strategy, definition of KPIs, creation of management, analysis and measurement of the results obtained.

The Transition Manager can thus evaluate the performance of the points of sale and define progress objectives.

• It is also common for company management to entrust the interim manager with the task of developing new tools. Many companies feel the need for a high-performance tool to efficiently manage stocks and anticipate changes in demand.
• If a Publishing Group develops a strategy on digital channels, the Transition Manager can also use specific tools, such as tools for measuring satisfaction levels on online shopping platforms.
• Finally, it may be logical for a Publishing Group to call on an Interim Manager to define a high-level marketing campaign: launch of a new opus, refined strategy for the literary season, organization and follow-up of strategic events such as the Salon du Livre … the expertise of an Interim Manager will be fully exploited in this type of configuration.

What profile for a Transition Manager in publishing?

• An appetite for art, culture and literature are obviously prerequisites that will allow a Transition Manager in publishing to be fulfilled and effective in his position.
• A knowledge of the literary milieu in France and abroad, can prove to be a plus for a mission in a publishing house, in particular as director of a communication, marketing, event or even trade department. In any case, a proven ability to build relationships easily and excellent communication skills and conviction are essential in a reputedly quite closed environment.

What price for an Interim Manager in the publishing sector?

An Interim Manager costs between 1000 and 2000€ per day in the publishing sector , depending on the positions held. This rate is an average, which will be impacted by various parameters. The size of the company, the function performed and the experience of the consultant are all elements that will influence the final cost of an Interim Manager.

It is up to the interim management firm to delegate a profile adapted to the expectations of its client and to determine precisely the amount of the tariffs that can be invoiced.