The Rise of Flexible Leadership

Across Europe, the demand for interim management is growing rapidly. New research from global talent solutions specialist Robert Walters shows that organisations increasingly rely on interim managers to lead digital transformation, restructuring programmes and other complex, specialist projects.

While Dutch legislation (Wet DBA) limits interim engagements to specialist assignments, the rest of Europe shows the same trend: companies are seeking interim experts for their deep knowledge and their ability to deliver immediate results.

Why European organisations choose interim management

Interim management has shifted from temporary replacement to a strategic solution for high-impact projects. In 2025, organisations most frequently use interim managers for:

• Digital transformation and system implementation

• Project and programme management

• Cost-reduction and process optimisation

• ESG and sustainability initiatives

• Restructuring and organisational change

José Bokhorst, CEO at Robert Walters, explains:
“Today’s market conditions require companies to adapt quickly. Businesses need specialised professionals who can add value from day one — whether in technology, transformation or efficiency improvements.”

Speed and direct impact

The survey shows that 39% of European organisations use interim managers because of their speed and ability to deliver immediate impact. Interims are known for rapidly assessing a situation, making decisions and putting projects in motion.

Their objective perspective and broad experience make them especially valuable during:

• rapid tool or system implementation

• solving operational bottlenecks

• temporary workload peaks

• regulatory or compliance changes, including sustainability regulations

Interim management fits seamlessly with a labour market where agility and resilience are becoming essential.

Growth in sectors under pressure

Even sectors experiencing financial pressure report an increase in interim assignments.

Industry

Demand is strong for experts in digitalisation, supply-chain optimisation and cost efficiency. Interim managers with backgrounds in lean management or operational transformation are highly sought after.

Financial services

Compliance, digitalisation and mergers drive demand for interim specialists in audit, risk, IT implementation and integration projects.

These sectors value interim managers for their ability to scale capacity without long onboarding periods.

Interim market growth in 2025

A striking 66% of European organisations expect to hire more interim professionals in 2025. Their primary reasons include:

• the need to innovate quickly

• uncertainty in the economic environment

• the requirement for temporary, specialised expertise

• improved capacity during transformation or peak workload

Bokhorst concludes:
“Whenever the market moves — whether because of economic volatility or technological change — the demand for interim specialists increases. That trend is clearly continuing in 2025.”

Conclusion

Interim management has become a critical instrument for companies that need flexibility, specialist knowledge and rapid impact. With organisations across Europe facing continuous change, the role of the interim professional in 2025 is more vital than ever.