The latest Ipsos MORI survey conducted by The Interim Management Association’s (IMA) of the UK’s leading interim management providers has shown a clear rise in the number of new assignments started  in quarter 3 2011, compared to the previous three months. The survey covering July to September 2011 reveals a 22% increase in new assignments, despite the challenging economic conditions.

The survey indicates that the private sector now accounts for 65% of all completed interim management assignments, up from 61% in Q2.  This share of private sector assignments completed by IMA members is at its highest level since Q4 2007 and appears to have returned to pre-recession figures.   

The number of enquiries received also grew in Q3, continuing an upward trend which sees enquiries rising by 68% from a low which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2010. This is clearly encouraging news and confirms that activity levels have been increasing.

27% of requested assignment functions are from Special Projects (down from 29% in Q1 2011) followed by Finance (20%) for which the proportion is constant from the previous quarter. C-suite executives represent 8% of the IMA business in this survey.

The most common reason for an assignment is Programme/Project Management, with 36% of all interim executives hired for this purpose (up three percentage points from the previous quarter of 33%). Perhaps because this is a convenient label to give it?

Business Improvement and Change or Transition Management represents 15% and 14% of completed assignments respectively.

These levels are relatively unchanged from the previous quarter, with the former unchanged and Change or Transition Management decreasing by one percentage point. These figures are notably higher than the next most cited reasons. Interestingly Turnaround is surprisingly low but this has been a busy area for us with many assignments needing Turnaround expertise.

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