The interim management market in Spain continues to grow, although it is still far from the consolidation seen in countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, or the Netherlands. A relevant fact is that only 20% of interim management assignments are intermediated by specialized companies, known as service providers, while the majority are managed directly with freelance professionals within trusted contact networks.
While directly hiring an interim manager may seem faster or cheaper in the short term, the reality is that turning to a specialized interim management provider offers strategic advantages that optimize investment and minimize risks. We explain why.
Specialized interim management companies have structured and validated selection processes that ensure the interim executive not only has the necessary experience but also aligns with the company's culture and strategic objectives. This approach minimizes the risk of incorporating unsuitable profiles, something difficult to guarantee in a direct hire.
In addition, service providers access highly qualified executive talent networks, allowing them to assign professionals with proven experience in specific sectors, reducing search times and avoiding hiring mistakes.
One of the major challenges of directly hiring interim executives is the associated legal and fiscal risk. In Spain, regulations on self-employed workers and the contracting of professional services can lead to problems such as disguised employment or non-compliance with tax obligations, exposing the company to penalties.
Interim management providers guarantee a secure contractual structure, complying with current regulations and ensuring client peace of mind. Furthermore, many of these companies include liability insurance, protecting both the company and the interim manager against any contingency.
When a company needs to temporarily fill an executive position or tackle a strategic project, speed is key. While finding and evaluating an interim manager independently can take weeks or months, a service provider can assign the ideal profile in a matter of days, thanks to their database and selection methodology.
Likewise, if the professional is not a good fit or an unforeseen event occurs, the provider can quickly replace them, ensuring business continuity without interruptions.
Unlike direct hiring, where the company assumes the management of the interim manager without additional support, service providers actively monitor the assignment. This involves supervising the achievement of objectives, making adjustments to the work plan, and providing support to both the professional and the company, ensuring the project's success.
This supervision model maximizes the impact of interim management, ensuring that the company obtains the expected return on investment in terms of transformation, operational efficiency, or change management.
Although at first glance, using an interim management provider may seem more expensive, the reality is that it is an efficient investment. The risks of incorrect hires, legal problems, and delays in the professional's incorporation are reduced, which lowers opportunity costs and ensures a greater impact on the business.
In addition, providers work with defined and measurable objectives, which allows for the evaluation of the interim manager's performance and the optimization of results.
The Spanish interim management market is in full evolution and, as has happened in other European countries, it will tend towards a model where the intermediation of service providers will be the norm. Companies that understand this change and trust specialized strategic partners will be the ones that truly leverage the potential of this talent solution.
At Servitalent, as specialists in interim management in Spain, we help organizations find the right temporary executive at the right time, guaranteeing security, speed, and return on investment. If your company is considering incorporating an interim manager, we accompany you throughout the process so that you can make the best decision and achieve the results you need.