The role of the International Transition Manager
In a context of radical internationalization, where borders tend to dissipate and where commercial transactions are increasingly immaterial, French subsidiaries abroad are commonplace.
This transformation is further developed by the generalization of telework, which further blurs the cards by making relations between countries more fluid.
In this context, French companies established abroad are often looking for highly qualified profiles who can provide their skills in specific circumstances: replacement of management, implementation of a new site, acquisition of a structure, etc. Experienced and qualified transition managers who wish to live a professional adventure abroad are highly appreciated by French structures established abroad.
What are the specificities of international interim management ? Discover the challenges of this very special management position.
Why hire an International Transition Manager?
A French structure established abroad is subject to complex issues:
- Adaptation of teams to the country of establishment, in particular to current legislation,
- New commercial and financial partners,
- New work environment,
- New employees, whose working methods are sometimes radically different from French methods.
An Interim Manager who has both significant expertise in his sector of activity and a perfect knowledge of the country where he will be delegated is a safe bet, who will find his place in this type of mission.
Its scope of intervention can vary significantly: establishment of a new subsidiary, merger acquisition, crisis management, change of management, etc.
In all cases, he must place this dual skill at the service of the client company in order to optimize production and make it profitable.
What positions for an international transition manager?
For an experienced executive who wishes to carry out an international mission , interim management is an interesting solution.
Interim Managers delegated internationally may be called upon to carry out various operations:
- Establishment, development and enhancement of a new site, factory or subsidiary,
- Mission of profitability of a local factory: supervision of local teams, definition of a strategy and operational management,
- Piloting and interim management of a production site to ensure the interim between two departments,
- closing a site,
- Management of a local crisis,
- Recruitment and training of a team of new employees,
- Implementation of a high-stakes project such as the launch of a product, the implementation of new processes, etc.
It should be noted that, while it is common to call on an Interim Manager to resolve a tense situation, management rarely has the reflex to appoint an expert to anticipate a crisis: however, the skills of Interim Managers can also prove very useful in an acquisition context, for example. By carrying out an audit as soon as the project is set up, the interim manager anticipates all the blocking elements, implements corrective actions if necessary and prepares the ground to smooth the implementation and make the site profitable.
What profile for an international transition manager?
An international transition manager must have a very specific profile.
For an effective Interim Manager, he must indeed demonstrate dual skills:
- Like any Interim Manager, he must be able to rely on proven sector expertise in the sector of activity in which he will be called upon to exercise, justified by significant experience. This experience should enable him to implement concrete actions that can bring real added value to the company.
- But the fact of exercising outside the territory also requires other characteristics: the Interim Manager must indeed be familiar with the working methods of the country where his client is established, with current legislation, perfectly master the local market and of course speak the language of the country perfectly.
Adaptability and great flexibility are also required for this type of position.
What price for an International Interim Manager?
Due to his particular profile and therefore relatively rare, the Interim Manager is billed more than his colleagues at the national level: for an experienced Interim Manager, it takes around €2,000 per day at least.
To this price are added the additional costs: travel for the interim manager and sometimes for his family, rental of official accommodation, etc.
The transition management firm plays an important role in the transactions, by defining the role of the transition manager, by drafting precise specifications for the scope of his mission and by setting a precise price for the duration of the mission, impacted by these different parameters.