Anatomy of an Interim
Many of my friends and family members know I’m a huge sports fan. I would almost rather watch live sports over almost any other form of entertainment. And one of the maxims of that world is that head coaches in bigtime college and pro sports face one of three inevitable fates: retirement, being poached by another team, or getting sacked. (Mostly getting sacked.) And if a coach is fired in season, they are almost always replaced by…”the interim.”
Some of you also know I am among the world’s biggest fans of my alma mater’s sports teams, the Vanderbilt Commodores. (It’s a relatively exclusive club, but all are welcome.) I can answer trivia questions about Vanderbilt sports like nobody’s business. But even I am hard pressed to name the last interim football coach the Dores employed during my fandom, even though it was just six years ago. (The answer is Todd Fitch, by the way. I had to look it up.)
I’ve now had the opportunity to be the interim leader of two organizations during the last seven years of my career, Explore Asheville in 2020 and Southeast Tourism Society for the first part of 2026. Both stints came during challenging times in those organizations’ histories. But I went into both jobs with clear eyes, a full heart, a commitment to doing my best, and the realization that much like interim coaches in the sports world, at the end of the day the only thing people really care about is for you not to screw it up. Because much like me and my alma mater’s interim coaches, no one will remember you past day one of the new leader’s tenure.
Which is how it should be. Vic Isley has done a great job for Explore Asheville since taking the reins in late 2020, and Nan Marchand is an inspired choice to be STS’ next leader. They are visionary thinkers, and that’s a big part of the job. The interim’s role is more triage physician in the ER at 3:00 AM. Apply immediate care to the critical victims, make sure the team is performing, and leave the many patients upstairs in the hospital rooms to the experts coming on shift at 7:00 AM.
There are always opportunities to go above and beyond, of course. On my first day as interim at Explore Asheville, I introduced myself via e-newsletter to our community partners and told them I was donating half my salary during the pandemic. It was the right thing to do during a time of crisis. (It probably also made some people think I was massively overpaid if I was capable of that sacrifice.) But much like the ER doc doing her best work at 3:00 AM, hardly anybody took notice.
And that’s okay. Like most interim leaders, I didn’t do it for fame and fortune. Of course there are those who see it as an audition for the top job, and many interim CEOs have gone on to bigger roles at their organizations or elsewhere. Given the leaders who were eventually hired at both places, I made the right decision not to pursue either permanent job. But great interim leaders work just as hard regardless of whether they wish to be considered for the permanent role. They know, however, there are certain changes that are best left to the new CEO. That’s not laziness or timidity. It’s the recognition that substantial organizational change and strategic direction should be implemented in alignment with the new CEO’s vision. That doesn’t mean interim leaders can’t make significant contributions towards strengthening the viability of the organization and creating stability for the new leader while remaining faithful to its mission.
I don’t know if I’ll get another career opportunity to be an interim CEO. It’s not something one actively seeks out on Indeed or LinkedIn. But the next time you’re a part of an organization with an interim leader–and you will be, as a board member, stakeholder, or employee–give that person your full support and confidence. Don’t dismiss them as “just the interim.” Good interim leaders know their place, but they are also just as committed to the organization as the permanent CEO. (I was fortunate to have great board support in both of my interim jobs.)
(And please show your support of Southeast Tourism Society and new President and CEO Nan Marchand by registering for and attending this year’s STS Connections event in Richmond, September 9 -11. It will be a good time.)