Interim talent in Private Equity: Meeting the demand for Value Creation
At InX, we keep a close eye on the shifting dynamics of private equity and the evolving talent needs within the industry. Brand Manager Becca Boulton recently sat down with Luiza Bagatini, Research & Delivery Lead – Private Equity & Value Creation, to discuss the increasing demand for interim strategy consultants across PE portfolio businesses.
From cost-out strategies to revenue growth, Luiza shares her insights on why private equity funds are increasingly turning to plug-and-play interim solutions to accelerate transformation, support value creation plans, and drive profitability.
Demand for interim strategy consultants across PE portfolio businesses is on the rise. As predicted in our talent trends earlier this year, we have seen significant growth in Operating Partners looking for ‘plug-and-play’ solutions to lead and support Value Creation plans across their portfolio companies.
While the trend of building permanent Operating Partner teams has steadily grown over the past few years - varying in experience level and areas of expertise based on fund strategy and style—the need for interim solutions has only made a strong comeback since mid-2024. This shift has been unsurprising, given the increase in holding periods between 2022 and 2023. The recurring themes have centered around cost reduction, operational excellence, and turnaround support, all aimed at returning to profitability and improving EBITDA.
We have collaborated with large-cap funds’ Operating Partners to identify top talent in the interim strategy and transformation space. These professionals have taken on roles such as Chief Transformation Officers or supported internal executives at C-1 or -2 levels, leading expert workstreams while adding crucial bandwidth to teams.
Some of the key projects our interim consultants have delivered in 2024 include:
A big-picture review of entire business units, assessing target operating models, and designing sales and delivery models that are more fit-for-purpose.
A laser-focused RevOps assessment, followed by the establishment of a revenue operations function at a group level.
A strategic review and governance setup for inventory optimization and management.
Since January and February 2025, we have observed a shift in focus towards top-line growth, with go-to-market strategies, pricing, and organic growth emerging as the primary areas of interest.
Our latest projects have included:
A strategy review of analytics and insights capabilities, establishing a group-level data strategy to inform and enable business units.
An integration lead role for a European business services firm pursuing an aggressive buy-and-build strategy for 2025.
A Value Creation Officer role, tasked with leading the VCP strategy and setup following a secondary acquisition.
As investor confidence rebounds and deal activity surges, competition for talent is intensifying - not only for permanent hires but also for on-demand solutions. This is driving a need for more streamlined processes and alternative, faster, and more relevant solutions, such as engaging interim consultants or dedicated interim teams.
With the evolving needs of PE firms, the ability to rapidly deploy high-calibre interim talent is becoming a critical competitive advantage in driving value creation and transformation
Learn more about the InX Private Equity team and how they can help you.