Demand for sales and marketing interims drives imminent war for talent

Despite growing fears of an unstable economy, business is booming for specialist sales and marketing interim managers. Companies across the board are investing money in restructuring their sales and marketing teams, and consequently demand for senior directors is at an all time high.

ìA general sense of positivity backed up by a genuine increase in business has encouraged organisations to invest money in their sales and marketing teams,î says Mike Daniell of specialist interim recruiters Praxis Executive, ìand consequently an experienced senior director who can be brought in to oversee the restructuring operation on a short term basis is becoming a highly sought after commodity. This trend may come as somewhat of a revelation considering the expectation of a serious economic downturn in the near future, and the decrease in sales and marketing assignments in the previous couple of years. In Praxis Executiveís 2005 Interim Management Market Analysis, sales and marketing accounted for 14% of 1522 assignments completed, but in 2006 it made up just 10% of the total. 2007 has seen a true ëreturn to formí for sales and marketing, and I wouldnít be surprised if we see that figure approaching 20% in the second half of the year.î

ìThe flipside of this is that we are already seeing an imminent skills shortage on the horizon. The restructuring of sales and marketing teams is resulting in the need for extra staff, and it wonít be long before it becomes increasingly difficult to source experienced candidates. Consequently rates of pay for interim professionals with a good track record in sales and marketing are already on the increase ñ upwards of 2500 per day in some instances - and this looks set to continue as the war for talent heats up,î continues Daniell.