Interim Project Executive (System Reimplementation)
“Bringing in an Interim project executive was a game-changer. They stepped in and gave us the extra capacity, credibility, and calm we desperately needed during a tough recovery period. We now have a clear roadmap, tighter controls, and a smooth go-live under our belt, with engaged users and a much lower consulting spend.”
November 27, 2025 - 1:30 PM Stephen Bell
Context
LHH’s client faced a high-stakes situation: a major system implementation had failed, leaving the organization exposed and the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) under pressure. Rather than rely solely on external consultants, they embedded an experienced Interim Project Executive to partner with their Big 4 consulting firm and shoulder the burden of recovery.
What Worked — and Why
The interim brought deep program leadership experience and independence. They acted as the embedded resource for the executive sponsor, ensuring objectivity and alignment between consultants and internal teams. Their presence allowed the ELT to stay focused on operations while maintaining confidence in the turnaround plan.
Tangible Improvements
- Delivered a comprehensive assessment of what went wrong and why the initial implementation failed.
• Established stronger project governance and controls, including risk registers, stage gates, and reporting cadence.
• Developed a realistic roadmap for reimplementation with clear milestones and accountability.
• Led the reimplementation effort, coordinating consultants and internal teams to hit a new go-live date.
• Improved stakeholder engagement, resulting in happy end users and high adoption rates.
Exit & Handover
The interim left behind a fully operational governance framework, a knowledge transfer pack, and a stable leadership structure for ongoing system optimization. The ELT retained confidence and clarity, and the organization avoided further disruption.
Bottom Line
This engagement reduced overall consulting spend, added critical capacity and capability, and delivered a successful go-live. The interim executive provided leadership at a time when the organization needed it most.
Outcomes at a Glance
|
Recovery roadmap |
Delivered within 60 days |
|
Governance & controls |
Stage gates, risk logs, and dashboards implemented |
|
Go-live success |
Achieved on revised timeline with high user adoption |
|
Consulting spend |
Reduced by leveraging internal leadership |
|
ELT capacity |
Freed up for strategic priorities |
|
Knowledge transfer |
Complete handover with playbooks and governance tools |
Chief Executive Officer, Broader Public Sector Organization (name withheld for confidentiality)
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