Getting to know your consultant: Steve Blake, Head of Technology, Media and Telecommunications
How did you get into interim management?
It was a natural progression from the search industry. I graduated with a degree in Marine Biology in New Zealand and did what many Kiwi graduates do - travelled. My first 'real job' was in financial services, then the food manufacturing industry before heading to the UK for the second time. In 1999 I joined an international recruitment business to learn the basics, moved to a niche firm to specialise in search and selection before taking the natural step to supply top industry executives in my favoured sectors of Telecoms, Media and Technology (TMT).
What do you find most satisfying about your career?
Being at the top of the tree. Our candidates and clients are true business leaders. My client portfolio reads like a who's who within the global TMT industry. Within interim management we are viewed as trusted advisers to fix business issues and as such our discussions allow us real insight into the workings of our clients' businesses. It is this level of trust, depth of relationships and the ability to add value that gives me most satisfaction.
What qualities do you look for in an interim management candidate?
Our interim managers need to be leaders in their sector or function. They will have achieved this through outstanding 'delivery'. Added to this they will be excellent stakeholder managers, flexible, inclined toward risk and away from politics and, above all, driven by the desire to exceed expectations. Interims trade on their reputations and therefore individuals with strong networks and references always stand out. I also seek interims who want to develop a relationship/partnership with me and Interim Partners. We aim to place our interims repeatedly and therefore the better we know our candidates, the more likely we are to succeed.
How can clients get the most out of working with you?
The simple answer is by spending time to explain their key business issues and challenges so that we develop an understanding that enables us to offer the best solutions. It's also about our clients understanding how we can help; we are a specialist interim provider with an unparalleled network of interims able to fix their issues. It is in their best interests to partner with us. We aim to become partners and create long-term mutually beneficial relationships. These don't happen overnight and need investment from both sides.
What would you say are the key challenges for your clients in the TMT sector and how can interim management help?
As we recover from a painful two years there is now more discretionary spend in many parts of the industry. The race for competitive advantage is back on and there is investment in large transformation programmes. Ensuring the key talent is leading these programmes is all-important and interim managers are often utilised to 'kick start' a programme and sometimes to lead it throughout. Whole teams can be engaged within a week when it might take months to hire permanent staff.
Mergers, acquisitions and demergers are also back in vogue; post merger integration specialists can shave £ms off the real cost of such programmes. This is a very specialist area and we have a network of individuals adept at PMI we can call on. There is also plenty of change underway at the executive level after two years of little hiring. We are supplying interim CEOs and MDs to cover these gaps.
About Steve Blake
Favourite destination?
Home - New Zealand. There is no place like it as the saying goes. However Waihi Beach is a particular favourite - deserted beach, warm sea, good friends, BBQs - what more could you want?
Best restaurant?
Clearview Estate in Hawkes Bay. Best wine, fantastic food and on the beach.
Which three people would you have round for dinner?
Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Valentino Rossi and Sean Fitzpatrick
Three favourite artists?
The Killers, U2 and Van Morrison
What are you currently reading?
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo