Getting to know your Consultant
Interview with Simon Gough, Head of FMCG Practice
Q: How did you get into interim management?
Having worked within executive search for a number of years I'd noticed an increased demand for senior interims within my client base, this demand was for more than just gap management. Clients wanted individuals outside of the typical search remit and they wanted them without the long process of search. Having identified an area that was growing fast I targeted a move into an interim management company that matched my ambitions.
Q: What do you find most satisfying about your career?
Delivering solutions to a client and then spending time with the individuals whilst they successfully complete programmes and projects knowing that I was an integral part of the success. I also enjoy meeting and working with people who have created and driven seriously innovative products that I consume at home. This drives people mad when I tell them all about how the product they are eating is made, but I love it.
Q: What qualities do you look for in an interim management candidate?
Honesty, flexibility and the right attitude. I like to work with interims who want to make things happen, are honest about their ability to fulfil a task and are determined to see a project through to a successful completion. All of the interims I work with take an enormous amount of pride in what they do, they understand they're not just representing Interim Partners, they're also representing their own limited companies. The best interims I work with are clearly focused on leaving a legacy behind them which leaves them with a great reference but also a positive view on interims for the client going forward.
Q: How can clients get the most out of working with IP?
Open and regular dialogue is essential to a strong working relationship. The greater we understand the way the client operates and the culture of their business, the easier it becomes to find the right interim for their organisation. Only contacting a recruiter when you need them may work in the contracting market but more frequent communication is valuable at a more senior level, if we know the circumstances behind the requirements it makes the interim manager easier to brief and will ultimately get them up to speed quicker.
Q: What would you say are the key challenges for your clients in the FMCG sector? How can interim management help?
The biggest challenges in 2008 are undoubtedly going to revolve around the price and supply of food. To stay competitive companies are having to be much leaner in their factories, more effective in their procurement and seriously robust in their supply chain. Interim management can help with all of these areas, our programme managers have run some of the countries biggest rationalisation programmes and our project managers have completed lean manufacturing assignments. Supply chain interims have proved to be extremely effective at running feasibility studies for businesses and outlining where they could save money whilst strengthening their supply chain. The refreshing change for the client in these situations is that not only do the interim managers highlight where these savings and improvements can be made, they also implement the changes. Operational and financial based interims in these situations can offer really strong and quantifiable returns on investment for the client.
Q: Favourite destination?
Mauritius, anywhere with snow and the Yorkshire Dales.
Q: Best restaurant/favourite food?
Too many favourites to list. I'd like a nice chateaubriand with fries.
Q: Which three people would you have round for dinner?
Russell Brand, Bob Geldof and Juande Ramos (Tottenham Hotspur FC manager)
Q: Three favourite albums/artists?
Zooropa - U2, Urban Hymns - The Verve, The 'Love' album - The Beatles.
Q: What are you currently reading?
My Booky Wook by Russell Brand
Q: What are your ambitions?
From a professional perspective I want to be the first person senior clients come to when they need an interim. From a personal point of view I want to be the best dad I can to my 2, soon to become 3 children. I'd also like to run the New York marathon but feel that too much damage to my knees playing ice hockey at a younger age may have put pay to this plan.