Interim Management in China - Foreign Executives have been working in China and Asia for decades.
Originally on expatriate contracts, a high number of them have now decided to stay in China. This is either done by renewing their contract, making the transition over to another company or by using their experience and expertise in an Interim role.
In China, there is only a small group of senior interim turnaround professionals with the experience and track record to make a difference. The best aren't easy to find or attract – these individuals are always in demand, since there are always both local and foreign invested companies struggling, regardless of the state of the market.
Mick McGeehan, Managing Director of Interim Management Solutions, says that "the demand for temporary assignments of highly experienced executives is dramatically increasing. Whether the term Interim Management is used or not, temporary executives with 10+ years experience are extremely valuable in China’s current economic climate.’ He continues, ‘when tough decisions need to be made, a fresh pair of eyes is an excellent way to ensure challenges are seen from the right perspective. This, I believe, is one of several key reasons for the sudden increase in demand."
The vast majority of Interim Managers working in China are foreign and currently there are very few Chinese Interim Managers carrying out regular assignments. This could be due to a number of reasons. Firstly, Chinese society extols the virtues of security – the irregular nature of an Interim Manager’s income and the lack of long term contracts certainly wards off a number of would be Interim Managers. Secondly, experienced Chinese managers who are already secure financially are usually in their late 50’s - some of these managers may have limited English language skills which would make them less appealing to MNCs in China. Nevertheless, there are a number of Chinese in their late 30’s to early 40’s who are adventurous, entrepreneurial and interested in becoming Interim Managers.
One function in China that seems to be attracting a burgeoning number of Interim Managers is in Human Resources. A growing number of HRDs are looking to provide consulting or training services on a project or freelance basis, rather than being tied down to long term contracts. Interim assignments are therefore appealing given the greater flexibility and control over one’s working life they can provide.
A typical Interim assignment can last from six months to over two years. An example would be an Interim Manager named John, a British citizen and a highly experienced IT Professional, providing IT Project Direction and Management, with over 15 years experience in the IT field of which 3 years were working in China (mainly Beijing and Shanghai). He has vast experience with Microsoft Systems and has even managed the relocation of an entire IT division to a new facility in the UK.
He carried out an assignment for Interim Management Solutions as Director of Information Technology for a textile company based in Nanjing, Jiangsu province where his main KPI was to specify and deliver a new ERP system.
John's hands-on experience proved invaluable in bringing the company's IT infrastructure up to the required standards necessary prior to rolling out a successful ERP platform. Being able to adapt and provide solutions not in the original assignment are all part of the skill set of an Executive Interim.
Interim Management Solutions (IMS), based in Shanghai, is the leading provider of Interim Management services in China. Dealing with both foreign and local executives, IMS currently holds the largest database of Interim Managers in China. IMS places Interim executives in a variety of different industries all over Asia, from Luxury goods and Retail to machine manufacturing. They are part of the J.M Gemini group, one of the longest running and most successful recruitment agencies in Asia, and aim to keep up with the current demand for interim managers and executives and provide the Chinese market with Interims capable of transforming businesses.
Should you wish to learn more about Interim Management Solutions and the services they provide, or if you have an enquiry either as a client or candidate, please send an email to ims@jmgemini.com, or visit our website here at http://www.imsinchina.com/.