Recruitment is getting harder: in this unstable global economic context, organisations and professionals are finding it difficult to plan for the long term. According to Robert Walters' recent European research on interim management, organisations looking for flexibility and resilience are increasingly turning to interim managers, whose numbers are growing.

63% replacement assignments in belgium  

A majority of companies in Belgium also called on interim managers to replace a key position last year: these interim management assignments rose from 46% in 2022 to 63% in 2023. 

"After the hiring rush during the post-Covid period, we have noticed a slowdown in the recruitment process in recent months. This slowdown has prompted organisations to turn to interim management in order to get resources quickly and fill key positions," explains Audrey Bostvironois, manager at Robert Walters Interim Management.

Other situations in which companies called on an interim manager last year were organisational restructuring (25%, compared to 16% on average in Europe) or a project requiring management support (13%, compared to 14% on average in Europe).

In the coming year, we expect an increase in the number of transformation-related assignments, especially in the manufacturing and financial services sectors.

CSR-related assignments on the rise

In Belgium, 31% of interim managers carried out assignments related to CSR issues in 2023, in line with the European average of 30%. These assignments were mainly related to organisational transformation, human resources and corporate culture, responsible digital reform and improving impact measures.

"Assignments that are 100% dedicated to CSR issues are not very common, but we are seeing an increasing offer for hybrid assignments, which require professionals with expertise in operational management, finance and HR, as well as knowledge and understanding of CSR issues," notes Audrey.

"In large Belgian organisations, we see that multidisciplinary CSR teams are being built. Different departments - including Operations & Supply Chain, Finance and Legal - work together to interpret the new legislation and then implement it within existing processes. The profile of the interim manager sought for these assignments is therefore highly variable."

70% of interim managers do not wish to return to a permanent contract   

According to the same Robert Walters survey, variation in assignments tops the list of reasons why professionals choose interim management. Flexibility, freedom and financial benefit follow next.

Whatever their motives, 70% of Belgian interim managers seem to have found satisfaction in their new role and do not wish to return to a permanent contract. 76% of the interim managers surveyed indicated that their self-employment enabled them to apply their knowledge and skills in different organisations and experience different environments.  

"The interim managers we work with every day emphasise the importance for them of being able to make full use of their accumulated expertise while having the freedom and flexibility to align their careers with their personal lives," concludes Audrey.

More information

Download our market report to learn more about the added value an interim manager can bring to your organisation