Here the Interim Became the New Permanent Leader
Although the intention was for the interim manager to stay at engineering company Søren Jensen only for a short period, the match was so successful that he ended up getting the job he was covering.
Need for a Quick Solution
When the CFO in a small company resigns, there is usually no one ready to take over the role. And even though the CFO at engineering company Søren Jensen gave notice well in advance, there was still too little time to find a permanent replacement. So when HR Manager Pia Metzlaff had previously had great success with an interim manager in an earlier job, she had no doubt that this was the solution she wanted to pursue again.
“”From previous experience, I knew that Nextt & Mason could solve the task. And they did – so well, in fact, that we ended up getting a new permanent CFO. The candidate we received from Nextt & Mason was so thoroughly selected that he turned out to be the perfect fit for the job. Therefore, he was hired permanently when the interim period ended"
She admits that she initially approached a temp agency to find a match for the vacant CFO position. But the agency failed — among other reasons because they focused more on the specific tasks the temp should handle, rather than finding the right person for the job, which she sees as a general challenge in that industry.
“”What was important to me in our situation was to find someone who was not only skilled but also had the experience and personality to take on the role from day one and fit into the organization.”
Based on that experience, Pia Metzlaff would always recommend taking one step up and contacting a company that specializes in providing interim managers — such as Nextt & Mason, from whom she has now received great help on two occasions.
“They put much more effort into the recruitment process and operate almost like a true executive search. Christian Hvashøj was incredibly thorough in his selection and excellent at narrowing down and understanding our precise needs — on a completely different level than a temp agency can. That he works extremely fast is an extra plus, because that’s exactly what you need in this kind of situation,” she says.
When the Need Is Urgent, Things Must Move Fast
When Søren Jensen was suddenly left without a CFO, several options were considered. Either they could bring in someone temporarily for 3–6 months, or they could aim to find an interim who might develop into the permanent solution.
“We chose the latter — mainly to avoid having to train a temporary replacement first and then shortly after a permanent one,” explains Pia Metzlaff.
The company didn’t look for a permanent solution from the start primarily because the need was acute, and they couldn’t wait for someone with a long notice period.
At the same time, they were well aware that hiring a temporary manager came with the risk of not getting the desired quality. When things must move fast, the pool of candidates is naturally limited — another reason why the HR Manager considers Nextt & Mason the right choice, as they have an extensive network to draw from.
Typically Higher Expectations
If some hesitate to go for an interim solution, it may be due to the general mistrust often associated with people who are between jobs — a bias she admits she’s not entirely free of herself.
“You’ll probably always wonder why a person is available. After all, very few highly skilled executives choose to step away from stability and live the uncertain life that comes with working interim,” she reflects — before quickly adding that, of course, it’s an unfair assumption.
However, at Søren Jensen, there was absolutely no reason for mistrust toward the temporary leader. At no point did Pia Metzlaff feel she had to compromise on the candidate’s professional qualifications.
“In reality, you expect an interim to take over and perform from day one — and onboarding or training isn’t really part of the process when the manager is temporary. So overall, expectations for an interim are typically a bit higher,” she explains.
But at Søren Jensen, the candidate lived up to every expectation — and then some. So to others in similar situations, she has just one piece of advice: Call Christian!
Facts about Søren Jensen
Søren Jensen Consulting Engineers A/S is one of Denmark’s leading engineering firms. The company covers all specialties within structural, installation, electrical, and ICT engineering, with extensive experience and expertise in managing construction projects — from the idea and planning phase to execution and ongoing operational optimization.
The company was founded in 1945 by engineer Søren Jensen and is today a family-owned limited company headquartered in Aarhus with a branch in Copenhagen. The company is now run by the third generation — Frank Jensen, grandson of founder Søren Jensen.
