{"id":62802,"date":"2025-09-11T10:41:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T08:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mf.ag\/?p=62802"},"modified":"2025-09-30T10:15:31","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T08:15:31","slug":"when-change-is-business-critical-ilona-akerlind-on-the-value-of-executive-interim-leadership-in-high-stakes-situations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mf.ag\/en\/articles\/when-change-is-business-critical-ilona-akerlind-on-the-value-of-executive-interim-leadership-in-high-stakes-situations\/","title":{"rendered":"When Change is Business-Critical \u2013 Ilona \u00c5kerlind on the Value of Executive Interim Leadership in High-Stakes Situations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ilona \u00c5kerlind<\/a> is a change leader and Interim Executive with a CFO<\/a> background and more than 20 years of experience in delivering results in business-critical situations. She thrives where the pressure is high \u2013 in M&A,<\/a> turnarounds, crises, or when an organization needs a new direction. With a unique combination of financial sharpness and leadership, she builds trust, unlocks potential in teams, and drives transformations that create long-term value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dI don\u2019t see it as a role, but as a way of working. What matters to me isn\u2019t whether it\u2019s called interim, transformation leader, or advisory \u2013 but the difference I can make. I thrive in assignments that demand courage, change, and clear direction with clear goals,\u201d<\/em> says Ilona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She is multilingual and has lived and worked in several countries, giving her a natural confidence in international settings. Her assignments have spanned the Nordics, France, Switzerland, the U.S., Spain, Central and Eastern Europe, and Asia \u2013 always at the intersection of strategy and execution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dAn American company, a French team, an Eastern European owner \u2013 it puts demands on both cultural and communication skills. Speaking several languages has been a great asset, not only for understanding but for building trust.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Executive Interim Management<\/a> as a Tool for Change<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ilona is driven by stepping in when it truly matters \u2013 during turnarounds, uncertainty, or when a new phase requires new tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dMany companies know they face a challenge, but not what the real problem is. I always start with a quick diagnosis: what works, what doesn\u2019t, and why? It can be anything from cash flow issues to internal conflicts or a lack of direction.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She has often stepped in as Interim CFO\/COO \u2013 or as Transformation Finance Lead \u2013 but always with a focus on the bigger picture. The combination of analysis, crisis management, and communication is often what creates change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dWith a degree in Business and an MBA, I have a strong financial and business foundation. But most of my career has been in international companies during periods of rapid change and complex transitions. What really makes the difference is not just the analysis \u2013 it\u2019s leadership: creating security in uncertainty, making tough decisions with respect, and showing the way forward.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leadership in Change \u2013 with Precision and Empathy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As a leader, Ilona believes in clarity, presence, and courage: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dI\u2019ve often been the only woman in the management team or board. That taught me to stand firm, be clear, and always act with integrity. I dare to make tough decisions \u2013 but in a way that maintains respect, both for people and for the mission. As an Interim Manager, it\u2019s crucial to quickly understand both the big picture and the details. One day you\u2019re in the boardroom shaping strategy, the next you\u2019re approving investments and guiding a junior finance associate \u2013 and you must know what\u2019s required at both levels. Change and reorganization often create anxiety in teams. I\u2019ve led many transformations and learned that the key is winning the team\u2019s trust \u2013 and that must happen quickly. As an interim leader, that can be especially challenging since the team doesn\u2019t always see you as their long-term manager. The art lies in both driving through changes that affect their daily lives and in coaching, motivating, and developing them so they feel empowered and involved. That\u2019s when you bring the whole team along, even in tough situations. At the same time, it\u2019s critical that the company doesn\u2019t lose key people during the process. That\u2019s why the interim leader, together with management, must ensure that change doesn\u2019t create more chaos \u2013 but that requires the company to provide a clear mandate, even if the assignment lasts only 4-9 months.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Should a Company Bring in an Executive Interim Manager?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201dIt can be a leadership gap due to restructuring<\/a>, an acquisition or merger, a crisis, or a transformation that hasn\u2019t happened. In all those situations, you need someone who can contribute immediately without a long ramp-up. You\u2019re not paying for maintenance \u2013 you\u2019re paying for movement. In some cases, it\u2019s also about growth companies that need an experienced CFO or CEO<\/a>, but not full-time. Then a part-time expert can quickly raise the competence level, reshape the team, or create new structures \u2013 without the company carrying the full cost. That type of solution is already established internationally, and I believe more Swedish companies could grow faster by daring to think that way. Another area is interim board assignments. When companies face major changes, an external, experienced interim leader in the boardroom can add precisely the competence and decisiveness required to move forward.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ilona has carried out some 20 reorganizations linked to M&A \u2013 from large carve-outs at listed companies to international integrations in private equity environments. One example is when she recently helped a group company close offices in France and liquidate subsidiaries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dA group of companies that has been merged almost always has the potential to simplify its structure and free up capital by winding down entities that no longer add value \u2013 often historical units that just sit there \u2018eating\u2019 equity.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her language skills and prior business experience with French companies were critical to executing the project quickly and cost-effectively. An interim leader with international experience can also be a key resource when companies enter new markets \u2013 often much more effective than relying solely on expensive law firms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dIn some cases, I\u2019ve shown that companies can achieve new results by unlocking capacity that already exists. Often, it\u2019s not just about structure and processes \u2013 but about identifying potential in the team that hasn\u2019t been recognized. I\u2019ve often found hidden talent in organizations, simply because no one has taken the time to listen or interview the team properly. In other situations, I\u2019ve temporarily taken on the CEO role \u2013 sometimes to strengthen existing functions like Sales and HR, sometimes to build new ones like Risk, Compliance, and Security. What matters to me is not just implementing, but making sure the teams feel supported and have the tools to succeed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Calling for Change<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For Ilona, interim assignments are not about keeping things afloat but about making a real impact where it\u2019s needed most: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dI\u2019m not here to maintain \u2013 I\u2019m here to make a difference. With structure, pace, and always with focus on business value and the bottom line.\u201d<\/em> As she puts it herself: \u201dI turn chaos into cash.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Would You Like to See More of in the Executive Interim Management Industry?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

“More diversity \u2013 more women, and especially women with international backgrounds. Interim Management is growing rapidly, and different perspectives are essential to creating competitiveness and better decisions. It\u2019s a business value, a future issue, and a step toward a more inclusive society.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality through relationships \u2013 The Executive Interim Management industry has grown significantly in recent years, a clear sign that the need for change leadership is rising. Competition drives quality, but growth also raises the bar for professionalism. For me, it\u2019s crucial that it\u2019s not just about filling databases and making quick matches, but about truly knowing the candidates. When done right, the company doesn\u2019t just get a CV that looks good, but a leader with the right experience. I\u2019ve seen the difference myself as a hiring manager, which is why I always ask interim firms how well they know their candidate base.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The firms that succeed best are the ones building long-term relationships with both clients and candidates. Large databases and fast matches may look impressive \u2013 but long-term value is created through quality and insight.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do You Have Any Advice for Leaders About to Take on Their First Interim Assignment?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201dBe honest \u2013 both with yourself and with the client. It\u2019s better to over-deliver than to over-promise. Be transparent and clear about your strengths, but also about your limits. Maintain your professional integrity. Reflect after every assignment: What created real value? What could be improved? I always try to take a short break between assignments to reflect, learn, and equip myself with new tools. For example, despite many years of working with operational and regulatory M&A, I recently realized I should strengthen the strategic side. So I took a certificate in M&A Strategy at INSEAD. Now I\u2019m diving into my next learning curve \u2013 AI in finance \u2013 and I love it. That may well be the topic for our next interview!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ilona \u00c5kerlind is a change leader and Interim Executive with a CFO background and more than 20 years of experience in delivering results in business-critical situations. She thrives where the pressure is high \u2013 in M&A, turnarounds, crises, or when an organization needs a new direction. With a unique combination of financial sharpness and leadership, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":62803,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2788],"tags":[3493,3696,3516],"class_list":["post-62802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-cfo-en","tag-coo-2","tag-executive-interim-management-en"],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244.png",1920,1080,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244-250x250.png",250,250,true],"medium":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244-300x169.png",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244-768x432.png",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244-1024x576.png",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244-1536x864.png",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244.png",1920,1080,false],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244.png",300,169,false],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244.png",400,225,false],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244.png",600,338,false],"profile_24":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244-24x24.png",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244-48x48.png",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244-96x96.png",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244-150x150.png",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/mf.ag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Website-Bilder-Neu-2025-09-11T090239.244-300x300.png",300,300,true]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"

Ilona \u00c5kerlind is a change leader and Interim Executive with a CFO background and more than 20 years of experience in delivering results in business-critical situations. She thrives where the pressure is high \u2013 in M&A, turnarounds, crises, or when an organization needs a new direction. With a unique combination of financial sharpness and leadership, she builds trust, unlocks potential in teams, and drives transformations that create long-term value. \u201dI don\u2019t see it as a role, but as a way of working. What matters to me isn\u2019t whether it\u2019s called interim, transformation leader, or advisory \u2013 but the difference I…<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"Articles<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"VALTUS Management Factory","url":"https:\/\/mf.ag\/en\/author\/managementfactory\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","yoast_head":"\nWhen Change is Business-Critical \u2013 Ilona \u00c5kerlind on the Value of Executive Interim Leadership in High-Stakes Situations » Management Factory<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mf.ag\/en\/articles\/when-change-is-business-critical-ilona-akerlind-on-the-value-of-executive-interim-leadership-in-high-stakes-situations\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"When Change is Business-Critical \u2013 Ilona \u00c5kerlind on the Value of Executive Interim Leadership in High-Stakes Situations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ilona \u00c5kerlind is a change leader and Interim Executive with a CFO background and more than 20 years of experience in delivering results in business-critical situations. 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