Bridge management,
an operational executive within 72 hours

An unexpected departure, a vacancy, a management crisis – interim management ensures the continuity of your business, with qualified candidates presented within 72 hours.

Find a BRIDGE Manager

Definition

Interim management involves temporarily engaging a senior executive to deal with managerial emergencies and fill a vacant strategic position (due to sudden departure or unplanned absence).

Acting as a veritable ‘emergency doctor’ or ‘firefighter’ for the company, the interim manager brings significant added value, unlike a simple replacement: they stabilise the situation, optimise processes and actively prepare the transition to their successor.

Use Cases

When to Use a Bridge Manager?

There are several situations where a company needs to bring in a bridge manager. Here are some typical examples:

Sudden Departure of a Senior Executive

When one of the company's senior executives unexpectedly leaves their position (departure, sick leave, etc.), it can create a significant operational void. A bridge manager can be called upon to fill this role while a recruitment process is carried out. This allows the company to continue operating normally, without interruption.

Leading Change Initiatives

When a company needs to undertake a significant transformation project, such as internal reorganisation, digital transformation, or even a merger and acquisition, it is sometimes necessary to strengthen the management team with specific skills. A bridge manager brings their expertise to guide the project while ensuring the continuity of day-to-day operations.

Crisis
Management

Crises – whether financial, structural or people-related – often require a rapid and effective response. Nearly 30 per cent of our assignments relate to such managerial emergencies. Generally speaking, on these assignments, we involve senior management, finance, HR and IT departments.

Business
Recovery

In crisis situations, a bridge manager can be deployed to get the company back on track. Thanks to their experience and ability to manage complex situations, the company quickly regains optimal operational performance.

Anticipating Future Changes

Companies sometimes need to anticipate changes such as retirements or expansion into new markets. Interim management helps to foresee these transitions by ensuring the training of existing teams to prepare for succession.

Delville Management process

How does a bridge management assignment work?

Implementing bridge management follows a structured process, ensuring the company benefits from a solution tailored to its specific needs.
Here are the key stages of a typical interim management assignment:

Step 1

Initial Assessment

Before commencing the assignment, an assessment is carried out to understand the organisation’s specific needs, the nature of the transition to be managed and the challenges to be addressed. In the event of a management emergency, this diagnosis is carried out immediately in order to draw up an action plan within a few days and set clear objectives.

Step 2

Selection of the Bridge Manager

Based on the diagnosis, Delville Management selects and presents bridge managers who meet your needs from its network of 22,000 qualified interim managers. These managers must not only possess the necessary technical skills but also have knowledge of your company's sector and align with its culture and values.

Step 3

Start of employment

The selected interim manager joins your company and takes on their responsibilities from day one. They handle the operational management of the position while implementing measures to stabilise the situation.

Step 4

Support and Guidance

Throughout the assignment, the interim manager benefits from the support of the Delville Management team, who assist them in achieving the set objectives. Regular follow-up meetings are organised to adjust the assignment based on evolving needs.

Step 5

Final Transition

Once the situation has stabilised, or the transformation project has been completed, the interim manager organises the handover by transferring responsibilities to their successor. They ensure the transmission of essential information regarding ongoing projects and implemented changes to guarantee a smooth transition, business continuity, and the sustainability of initiatives undertaken. This step is essential for facilitating a quick and effective onboarding.

Testimonial

François Denis

GENERAL MANAGER - GEOTAB

Delville is an excellent interim management firm. The team is highly professional and excels at accurately understanding the precise needs of its client companies.

Pierre Magro

CEO - BABYMOOV GROUP

Professional, high-quality, and efficient team, even under pressure.

Nicolas Péjout

CEO - EMLYON BUSINESS SCHOOL

The benefit of the mission was immediate. Sylvie, the interim manager, successfully laid the foundation for a smooth, human-centric, and rigorous transition.

Matthieu Lambeaux

CEO - AGRIBIOTHERS

A highly professional team capable of finding the right candidates who match the expressed needs.

Jérôme Delanoë

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR - SFERIS

Interim management seemed like a good solution, and it proved to be.

Eric Gauthier

HEAD OF OPERATIONS EUROPE - WINDROSE

I needed people who had already worked with Chinese people or in China, because that helps culturally. [...] We were lucky to have two managers from Delville Management, who did an excellent job and helped us.

Guillaume Ferrand

INTERIM CEO - VALDUNES

Thanks to a methodical and people-centred approach, Valdunes has managed to overcome its immediate challenges.

Why Delville

Recognised expertise 

At Delville Management, we have a network of over 22,000 highly qualified interim managers with in-depth expertise across various business sectors. This diversity allows us to meet specific needs, whether it's crisis management, organizational transformation, or temporary executive replacement.

Rigorous
Selection

We know that the success of a temporary management assignment largely depends on choosing the right manager. That's why we have implemented a rigorous selection process that evaluates not only the manager's technical skills but also their ability to quickly integrate into a new corporate culture.

Responsiveness and
flexibility

Interim management is generally required in emergency situations (unexpected or sudden departures) and often requires rapid action. When faced with such unforeseen circumstances, at Delville Management we are organised to meet your needs in record time by quickly mobilising the necessary resources. We present candidates within 72 hours. Our flexibility allows us to adapt our approach to the specific requirements of each assignment.

Personalised
support

Throughout the assignment, we provide regular monitoring to ensure its objectives are met. We are here to support you in adjusting actions and assisting the interim manager in their mission.

Experience and industry expertise

We understand the specific challenges across many sectors. This industry expertise allows us to offer bridge management solutions that are perfectly aligned with our clients' needs.

Business
continuity

Our approach to interim management goes beyond simply filling a vacant position. We ensure that the temporary manager not only prevents business interruptions but also brings significant added value to the organisation.