Digital Transformation Including Automation and AI
“I’ve been involved in many turnarounds and transformation processes throughout my career – and my experience is that especially in the SME segment, it’s always more beneficial to bring in highly experienced experts for a period – interim leaders – and then end the employment once the task is completed,” says Lars Tofft, Group CEO of Cell Tower Services.
- CLIENT: Cell Tower Services ApS
- POSITION: Interim IT and Digital Head
- DURATION: 4 months + 2-month extension
The Challenge
As part of a comprehensive turnaround, Cell Tower Services launched a transformation program spanning multiple areas of the business — including digitalization and IT.
The goal was to carry out a major digital transformation and ensure that Cell Tower Services would be at the forefront of digitalizing its business operations.
Parallel to this transformation, the interim leader was also responsible for managing and developing the company’s IT operations — including analysis, strategy, and execution of key IT tasks such as support, cybersecurity, and supplier agreements.
Why Interim?
“I’ve been involved in many turnarounds and transformation processes during my career, and my experience is that — particularly in small and medium-sized companies — it’s far more advantageous to bring in highly skilled interim leaders for a limited time and let the contract end when the mission is accomplished,” says Lars Tofft, Group CEO of Cell Tower Services.
It is by far the most cost-effective and qualitatively best approach.
The Cost Perspective
An interim leader may have a higher salary than a permanent employee, but only for the duration of the contract.
Many SMEs cannot afford the full-time resource they truly need. Often, they end up hiring a “lighter” profile whose salary fits the budget but who rarely delivers the best possible result.
The Quality Perspective
With an interim solution, you gain access to top-tier expertise — a highly qualified profile whose experience and skills can be leveraged as long as needed.
Often, an interim leader will be overqualified for the role — and that’s the advantage. They can immediately take charge, execute quickly, and solve even complex challenges. They also guide employees through the transformation, ensuring they become part of the process and can continue the work afterward.
“”The benefit of an interim solution is that I get someone who lives and breathes the company. Someone who not only defines the strategy but also stays to execute it — ensuring the organization can deliver on it. An interim leader both develops the strategy and takes part in the hands-on execution. They leave only once the task is completed, providing thorough handovers so employees can carry the work forward,”
An interim leader can accelerate development, boost a function for a defined period, and then hand over to the line organization once the foundation is in place.
It’s not a long-term solution — that would be overkill — but rather a launching rocket that helps the company reach a higher orbit, from which it can continue its own journey forward.
The Results
The first phase of the digital transformation program has now been completed successfully.
Among the results achieved:
- All classic IT operations such as maintenance, support, and security have been outsourced to a new service partner.
- A 24-month digital roadmap has been developed.
- The first set of business digitalization initiatives has been launched.
Today, Cell Tower Services is well-prepared for the future. The IT & Digital area is now ready for a permanent leader to take over.
As a telecommunications company, Cell Tower Services can now meet all digital demands and requirements from its customers — and can also advise them in ways that strengthen their own digital development.
About Cell Tower Services
Cell Tower Services provides consultancy and implementation services for telecommunications mast infrastructure — covering technical, operational, and business aspects.
The company was founded in 2004 by dedicated specialists with backgrounds in telecommunications consulting and mast construction.
Today, approximately 100 employees serve clients from offices in Denmark and India.
