Challenge · Interim commercial director

No commercial director for now. But a plan that has to go ahead.

The commercial director has left, the marketing lead is on leave, or the role didn't exist yet while the company is ready for it. The plan is there and the teams carry on, but nobody steers the whole. Every week without clear leadership slows progress.

Finding a new permanent hire takes months. And anyone starting in an empty seat first has to work out what's going on. Temporary senior leadership bridges that period, and makes sure the successor joins a train that's already moving.

When temporary commercial leadership is needed

The commercial director or marketing lead is leaving, and recruitment is still under way.
The company is outgrowing the role of the owner-director, who now runs marketing and sales personally.
There is a commercial plan, but nobody has the time or the mandate to carry it out.
Marketing and sales each have a manager, but nobody steers both.
An acquisition, merger or move into a new market is coming, and that calls for some extra experience at the table for a while.

More than a fractional CMO or temporary stand-in

Interim managers often keep things running, and sometimes that is exactly what is needed. In our experience, more is usually asked of the role: making the decisions that have been put off, bringing teams into line, and making sure the work carries on once the interim has gone. That's why we start with the question of what needs to be in place after we leave.

We take a seat on the leadership team, lead the commercial teams and make the plan workable. At the same time, we bring an internal successor up to speed, or help find the right permanent hire. That way we don't build dependence, but an organisation that can carry it itself.

Two forms

A seat at the table: one of us joins your leadership team for a while, around 8 days a month for 6 to 12 months, until an internal successor takes over.
Programme lead: your leadership team stays in charge, and we lead the execution of the commercial plan, around 4 days a month for at least six months.

Which form fits depends on what's missing: a leader at the table, or someone to get the plan moving. See both forms under Strategy to execution.

Who joins the table

Carlijn was commercial director at the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation and managing director at 50+Energie. She knows what a commercial ambition asks of leadership and collaboration, because she has held that role herself. Nona spent over seven years on go-to-market at Everbridge in Northern Europe and is now interim strategist for marketing, brand and go-to-market at Driftawave. Depending on the challenge, one of us takes the seat, and we spar together. Meet us.

The STOF rhythm in an interim role

Look and listen — in the first weeks, we talk to the teams, customers and the leadership team, and look at the figures. That way we quickly know where the plan is getting stuck.
Make a sharp choice — we take the decisions that have been put off, and with the leadership team make explicit what comes first and what stops.
Align — we bring marketing and sales into line, with one story, clear roles and a fixed working rhythm.
Follow through — we steer on results and bring the successor up to speed, until they can do it without us.

When is STOF right for this challenge?

STOF is a good fit for growing B2B companies of around 15 to 250 people that need senior commercial leadership for a while, and want something to be in place afterwards. If you are mainly looking for someone to run campaigns or to fill the role indefinitely, we're not the right partner.

Cases

What that looked like at Driftawave

Driftawave

First a complete brand, then a route to market and the systems to run it every week. In two months the account database grew almost tenfold and visibility in Google more than doubled.

Frequently asked questions

How quickly can you start?

We agree that in the introductory call. We plan the first weeks so we quickly see where the plan is getting stuck, and no pace is lost.

What happens when the permanent successor starts?

Then we hand over: files, owners, agreements and open decisions. Where it helps, we work alongside them for a while, so the successor joins a train that's already moving.

What does it cost?

We work on a project basis, not by the hour. Support over a longer period is agreed per month, all-in. After the free introductory call, if there's a fit, you get a proposal with a fixed price and a clear duration.

How do we start?

With a free 45-minute introductory call with Nona or Carlijn. We look at what's missing and which form fits. Even if it turns out you don't need us.

Senior leadership at the table for now, with a plan for afterwards.

In a free 45-minute introductory call, we look at what's missing, and whether temporary commercial leadership is the right step.

Bring your challenge to the table