Our Open Cross-cultural Interim Projects

1379 Interim CEO Poland

About Our Client:

Our client is an international manufacturing group seeking an experienced Interim CEO to lead the restructuring of a mid-sized manufacturing business in Poland employing fewer than 500 people.

Operating within the building products manufacturing sector, the business has been affected by prolonged market pressures, changing customer demand and a cost base that is no longer aligned with today’s competitive environment. A comprehensive restructuring programme has already been developed by the shareholders. The next phase requires an experienced interim executive to lead its implementation, restore financial stability and build a leaner, more competitive organisation.

This confidential assignment is representative of the Interim CEO, restructuring, operational turnaround and crisis management mandates that CE Interim delivers for German manufacturing companies and international industrial groups with operations in Poland and across Central and Eastern Europe.

Project Description:

This is an execution-focused Interim CEO assignment, not a consulting engagement.

CE Interim will appoint an experienced executive to lead a manufacturing business through a complex restructuring programme. Reporting directly to the shareholders, you will take responsibility for stabilising the business, executing agreed transformation measures and ensuring that the organisation emerges financially stronger, operationally leaner and positioned for sustainable long-term competitiveness.

Key priorities include:

Act as Interim CEO reporting directly to the shareholders.
Lead the execution of an approved restructuring, operational turnaround and performance improvement programme.
Deliver significant organisational restructuring and workforce optimisation while maintaining business continuity.
Lead the local management team, providing decisive leadership, coaching and accountability throughout the transformation.
Communicate openly and transparently with employees, maintaining trust, engagement and morale while leading the organisation through necessary organisational changes.
Drive operational excellence, cost optimisation and organisational simplification across manufacturing and support functions.
Negotiate and, where appropriate, renegotiate commercial agreements with suppliers, banks and other key stakeholders to strengthen the company’s financial position.
Ensure all restructuring activities are executed in full compliance with Polish employment legislation, corporate governance requirements and other applicable regulations.
Establish a disciplined operating model capable of delivering sustainable profitability and long-term competitiveness.

Interim Manager Required Skills:

You are a senior interim executive with a proven record of leading manufacturing businesses through operational turnaround, restructuring, crisis management and business transformation.

You will most likely bring:

Experience as Interim CEO, Managing Director, Chief Restructuring Officer or Transformation Executive.
Multiple successful restructuring or operational turnaround assignments within manufacturing.
Strong leadership experience in industrial manufacturing, engineered products, building materials, building products or comparable sectors.
Demonstrated success executing restructuring programmes where implementation, rather than strategy, determined the outcome.
Experience reducing organisational complexity while maintaining operational continuity, employee engagement and customer confidence.
Strong communication skills with the ability to lead difficult organisational change, maintain employee morale and retain the confidence of the remaining organisation during periods of restructuring.
Experience negotiating with banks, suppliers, employee representatives, shareholders and other key stakeholders.
Practical understanding of the Polish legal and regulatory framework governing restructuring, employment matters and corporate operations.
A pragmatic, hands-on leadership style with strong operational, commercial and financial discipline.
Fluency in Polish and English, with German considered a valuable additional language.

Key Requirements:

This assignment requires an executive who has successfully delivered manufacturing turnarounds, business restructuring and interim executive leadership mandates.

Essential experience includes:

Previous Interim CEO, Managing Director or Chief Restructuring Officer assignments.
Proven delivery of operational turnaround, restructuring and crisis management programmes within manufacturing environments.
Hands-on experience leading organisational redesign, workforce restructuring and performance improvement.
Demonstrated success negotiating with suppliers, banks and other commercial stakeholders during financially challenging situations.
Strong understanding of Polish employment legislation, corporate governance and the legal framework surrounding business restructuring.
Manufacturing leadership within industrial manufacturing, building materials, building products or comparable production environments.
Fluent Polish and English are essential. German is a strong advantage.

Type of Assignment:

Interim

Scope of Interim Assignment:

Restructuring & Operational Turnaround

Functional Area of the Interim Manager:

General Management

Location:

Poland

Duration:

6 – 9 Months

Start Date:

August – September 2026

Why work with us?

CE Interim delivers proven executive interim leaders within 72 hours across borders, cultures, and industries. We specialize in high-impact interim management for private equity firms, family offices, and global corporations facing moments of transition: digital transformation, market entry, operational turnaround, post-merger integration, or crisis.

What sets us apart is not just the speed or depth of our network, it’s how we lead. Every engagement is personally guided by a CE Interim managing partner: former CEOs, CFOs, or COOs who’ve been on your side of the table, steering organizations through high-stakes decisions.

With a global talent pool and operational reach spanning Europe, the USA, and the Middle East, we don’t fill roles, we build trust, lead transitions, and deliver outcomes.

As part of the Valtus Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of Executive Interim Management companies, we ensure seamless international execution through 25+ offices and 80+ senior partners in over 50 countries.