Rutherford Cross Interim Consultants, Kamran Chaudhry and Christina McLean, were delighted to host the third instalment in our Navigating the World of Interim for Senior Finance Professionals event series.
The lunch was chaired by the highly experienced Ed Rogers, who has operated within the interim world for the past 10 years. Ed has notably held CFO roles with AGS Airports and is currently the Interim CFO at Kellas Midstream.
We were also joined by 10 senior finance professionals – some currently in interim positions and others keen to explore what an interim finance career might look like. During the lunch, we posed 6 questions to Ed, which are listed below with his responses.
What motivated you to get into the interim market?
Ed shared that his move into interim work was driven by a desire for a challenge and the opportunity to make a real difference at speed. After years in permanent CFO posts, the appeal of stepping into complex situations, delivering quick wins and avoiding the slower pace and politics of corporate life became hard to ignore. Others in the group felt the same – the freedom to pick your projects, shape your schedule and work on genuinely interesting assignments was reiterated.
What does a successful first fortnight look like?
Early success is all about gaining clarity and building trust. Ed stressed how important it is to identify key stakeholders and have honest conversations from day one – even the uncomfortable ones. With interim roles, you don’t have months to find your footing, you need alignment and momentum straight away. Questions arose around how to make an impression in the first instance, Ed said to meet everyone as soon as possible and find out what the priority is for your interim assignment.
What do you deem ‘good habits’ to adopt when taking on interim work?
For Ed, strong discipline is non-negotiable. With limited time and high expectations, being organised and thorough pays off. He’s a big believer in checking everything carefully, especially ahead of board interactions. One habit he swears by is keeping a real-time document that captures decisions, risks, actions and context. It keeps him on track and helps ensure stakeholders are always aligned.
How do you build a network and find interim opportunities?
Ed’s approach starts with relationships. He regularly reconnects with former colleagues and leaders he has worked closely with – people who know the value he brings. He treats networking as an intentional, ongoing practice rather than something reactive.
He also highlighted the importance of partnering with specialist recruiters. Rutherford Cross play a big role in matching interims with the right opportunities at exactly the right moments. He reiterated that networking should be utilised to develop relationships and not transactions.
What are the benefits of being an interim?
Ed talked about the sheer breadth of experience interim roles offer – multiple sectors, complex challenges and major transformation projects. It’s the variety that keeps the work stimulating. Flexibility is another major advantage – the ability to step back between assignments or choose when to re-engage makes the lifestyle appealing to those who prioritise autonomy and impact.
What do you look for when hiring an interim?
When hiring an interim, Ed looks for individuals who are outcome-focused and capable of thinking independently. It’s not just about ticking boxes, it’s about trusting that they will get the job done without needing constant direction.
Adaptability is also key. The best interims are those who are comfortable stepping outside the original brief and getting stuck into whatever the business needs, even if it falls outside their job specification. Others in the room emphasised that usually when there is a business critical need, goalposts can change and the job description is not always where the role ends.
If you are interested in attending future events or are looking for support in your next Interim role, please reach out to Kamran Chaudhry and Christina McLean at Rutherford Cross: [email protected] / [email protected]
