When a business cannot wait months for a permanent appointment, an interim CEO is the answer.
Scott Foster provides interim CEO and acting Managing Director services across Australia and APAC. Boards, investors and business owners engage directly — no search firm, no agency fee, no placement delay. Available for any business that needs an experienced CEO deployed immediately, with full P&L accountability and no placement overhead.
About Scott Foster
25 years as a CEO and operating partner in industrial, manufacturing and distribution businesses across Australia and APAC. P&L accountability at every level — from $20M privately held businesses to $110M PE-backed operations across 12 countries. Boards and investors engage directly — no search firm, no placement fee.
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What is an Interim CEO Engagement?
An interim CEO is an experienced executive deployed on a defined contract — typically 3 to 18 months — to lead a business through a specific situation. Unlike a permanent appointment, there is no six-month search process, no lengthy onboarding, and no ambiguity about mandate.
The interim CEO assumes full executive accountability: P&L ownership, team leadership, board reporting and operational decision-making. This is not advisory. The interim CEO runs the business.
- Not a consultant — accountable for outcomes, not recommendations
- Not a recruiter placement — engaged directly, available immediately
- Not a holding pattern — active execution from day one
When an Interim CEO is the Right Call
The situations are consistent across sectors and structures:
- Sudden leadership gap — resignation, dismissal, illness or board-driven change. The business cannot go without a CEO for six months while a search runs.
- PE acquisition — the deal has closed and the incoming PE firm needs an operator in the business immediately, before a permanent appointment is made.
- Business in distress — underperformance against the investment thesis, cash tightening or stakeholder pressure. The board needs someone who can stabilise and turn the business quickly.
- Pre-exit preparation — EBITDA improvement and operational readiness before a defined exit timeline. The permanent CEO lacks the experience or bandwidth to lead the uplift.
- Transformation agenda stalled — the strategy exists but execution has failed without strong operational leadership.
- Bridge to permanent — a defined interim period while the permanent search runs, ensuring the business does not lose momentum or management confidence.
Related
The First 90 Days
An interim CEO engagement is time-compressed by design. The first 90 days follow a consistent pattern:
- Week 1–2: Rapid diagnosis — commercial, operational and financial position assessed. Key issues identified. Board aligned on mandate and priorities.
- Week 3–6: Stabilisation — cash and working capital position secured. Management structure clarified. Accountability reset. Operating rhythm imposed.
- Month 2–3: Execution — commercial and operational levers activated. Performance metrics established. Board reporting cadence in place.
- Month 3 onwards: Momentum — the business is executing. The permanent search runs in parallel or the mandate extends based on outcomes.
Track Record
As interim CEO and turnaround operator, Scott has stabilised underperforming businesses, led rapid commercial and operational resets, and delivered measurable EBITDA improvement across defined mandates. The track record is primarily industrial — the capability applies across any operationally complex business.
- Dotmar Engineering Plastics — CEO: 17× EBIT exit multiple. Full P&L accountability. Rapid operational restructure and commercial model rebuild ahead of PE trade sale.
- Polyflor APAC — CEO & MD: 300% EBITDA growth. Rebuilt the regional business across ANZ, overseeing manufacturing, distribution and commercial teams across 12 countries.
- Plascorp — CEO: 85% EBIT expansion in 18 months. Fast-tracked operational and commercial transformation of an underperforming industrial distribution business.
Who Engages an Interim CEO
Boards and Chairs
A board facing a sudden leadership vacancy, a CEO who is not performing, or a period of significant change needs an experienced executive who can step in immediately with full authority, clear accountability and direct board reporting. Sector is secondary — the need is for a CEO who can run the business confidently from day one. Boards across manufacturing, professional services, technology, healthcare, distribution and construction have used interim CEOs for exactly this reason.
Private Equity
PE firms use interim CEOs at two points: immediately post-acquisition, to stabilise and reset the business before a permanent appointment; and pre-exit, to drive the performance improvements that support the exit thesis. The interim CEO works directly with the deal team, takes full P&L accountability, and reports to the board. Engaged directly — no search firm, no placement fee.
Business Owners and Founders
An owner-operator facing health issues, a planned exit, a capability gap or a business that has grown beyond its current leadership can engage an interim CEO to run the business with full operational accountability. The interim CEO can hold the role while the owner steps back, prepares for a transaction, or searches for a permanent appointment.
Lenders and Advisors
When a business is under financial pressure and a lender or restructuring advisor needs an experienced operator to stabilise performance, protect asset value and execute a recovery plan, an interim CEO provides the accountability and speed that the situation demands.
Sectors
An interim CEO engagement is defined by the situation, not the sector. The core skills — P&L ownership, team leadership, board engagement, rapid diagnosis and performance recovery — are transferable across businesses. Scott Foster's track record is primarily in industrial and distribution businesses, but the capability applies wherever a CEO is needed:
- Industrial manufacturing and distribution
- Building products and construction materials
- Engineering and technical services
- B2B wholesale and supply chain
- Professional services and advisory businesses
- Technology businesses at scale
- Healthcare and aged care operations
- Retail and consumer businesses
- Infrastructure and construction
- Not-for-profit and membership organisations
The industrial depth in the track record is an asset in any capital-intensive, operationally complex business — which describes more sectors than most people expect.
Mandate Structure
Interim CEO mandates are structured around the situation:
- Duration: Typically 3 to 18 months, with defined milestones and clear exit criteria
- Engagement model: Full-time in the business, or part-time for smaller mandates
- Accountability: Direct board or investor reporting with agreed KPIs from day one
- Remuneration: Day rate or retainer structure — no agency fee, no placement cost
- Geography: Melbourne-based. Active across Australia, New Zealand and APAC. Remote or hybrid arrangements considered for the right mandate.
Equity participation is considered on a selective basis for the right mandate.
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