What Is an Interim Executive?

In recent years, a series of high-level personnel changes in well-known companies in the United States and Europe have drawn attention to the concept of temporary management. Perhaps the most famous case is Apple Computer's appointment of Steve Jobs. After the early departure of Jill Amelio, the former CEO of Apple, in order to get the business back on track, Jobs was called back to Apple. In a company's official announcement in September 1997, Jobs was called "interim CEO." (Jobs later became a full-time CEO of the company.)