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Practice· Feb 6, 2026· 5 min read
The interim CXO has gone quietly mainstream.
Interim CFOs, CHROs and COOs are now a standard tool for boards navigating transition, transformation or a sudden exit.
Five years ago, an interim CXO felt like a last resort. Today, boards reach for them by default in three situations: a sudden CXO exit, a transformation programme that needs functional firepower, and a PE-led portco between two permanent leaders.
The interim talent pool in India has matured. Most of our interim placements are former CXOs in their fifties or early sixties, choosing optionality over the next full-time seat.
Expect more interim COO and CHRO mandates over the next 18 months as transformation budgets harden and the cost of a wrong permanent hire keeps rising.
