INTERIM MANAGEMENT IN 2026

Interim Management in 2026.

Reflections on a growing sector

Interim management is now a strategic response in Spain and Portugal to rapid technological change, talent shortages and geopolitical uncertainty.

To provide an up-to-date overview of the sector, we have put a series of questions to our partners at EPUNTO Interim Management this week; drawing on their extensive experience, they have offered us a clear perspective:

“The interim management sector is a rapidly expanding market with a more diverse range of opportunities, enabling senior talent to demonstrate the importance of their contribution to companies now more than ever.”

AI as a tool to accelerate decision-making

Emilio del Prado highlights the direct impact of artificial intelligence on management: “AI is having an extraordinarily positive impact on management activities, the key areas of added value being the assumption of responsibility, sound decision-making and risk reduction.” His key observation is that AI does not replace the responsibility of decision-making; rather, it enhances it. With data, context and knowledge, AI combined with the interim manager’s experience reduces risks and increases success rates.

“AI is having an extraordinarily positive impact on management activities, the key areas of added value being the assumption of responsibility, sound decision-making and risk reduction.” — Emilio del Prado, CEO of EPUNTO

As Emilio points out, interim managers may well find significant opportunities in artificial intelligence, and to do so they must incorporate advanced analytical capabilities that complement their intuition and judgement, without compromising the accountability inherent in leadership.

Sector trends in the Iberian Peninsula

Patricio Gil Olmedo provides an overview of the Iberian market, placing its development in a comparative context: interim management in Spain and Portugal has not yet reached the figures seen in countries such as France, Germany or the United Kingdom, but “shows an unmistakable upward trend”. He explains that the main difference lies in the level of maturity, awareness of the benefits of these services and the scale of businesses; whilst in much of Western Europe interim management is an established practice, in the Iberian Peninsula it is still in its early stages of development.

In his analysis, he emphasises that “we are living in an environment of great change, one that is volatile, complex and uncertain”, which forces companies to have the capacity to adapt and act very quickly. For this reason, in his view, “interim management services offer a fast, flexible and efficient solution” for critical projects with tight deadlines: digital transformation, sustainability, restructuring and regulatory compliance.

“The roles most in demand in interim management are those related to technology and digitalisation, financial efficiency, operations and logistics, mergers and acquisitions, and cultural transformation.” — Patricio Gil Olmedo, managing partner at EPUNTO Interim Management

Patricio also specifies the roles most in demand: technology and digitalisation, financial efficiency, operations and logistics, mergers and acquisitions, and cultural transformation, with a predominance of senior executive profiles (CEO, CFO, COO, CCO, CHRO, CIO) who deliver immediate value.

Senior talent as a competitive advantage

Miguel Garcia Alonso argues that “interim management is not just an option for Silver Talent; it is their natural ecosystem.” Senior professionals bring immediate value, objectivity and mentoring, as their experience enables them to hit the ground running from day one and transfer knowledge without the constraints faced by those seeking a long-term corporate career. Furthermore, this approach offers senior professionals the opportunity to choose meaningful projects and continue making a contribution in a flexible manner.

“Interim management is not just an option for ‘Silver Talent’; it is their natural ecosystem.” — Miguel Garcia Alonso, partner at EPUNTO Interim Management

Consequently, interim management is key to unlocking what he calls the ‘Senior Dividend’ – a strategic response to the shortage of critical expertise in the market: re-engaging this intellectual capital is, now more than ever, a priority.

Sectors with growing demand

BEGOÑA HERNANDEZ identifies three areas with growing momentum: international strategy, strategic financial management, and digital and cultural transformation processes. In her view, “geopolitical uncertainty and disruptions to supply chains are forcing organisations to reassess markets, redesign value chains and optimise entry into volatile markets”. Furthermore, she believes that “digital transformation and cultural transformation processes remain key drivers of organisational adaptation, where interim professionals can accelerate the transition, provide impartiality and facilitate effective change management in environments characterised by high resistance or a need for speed”.

In this regard, the finance department is increasingly acting as a partner to the CEO; and cultural transformation remains essential for technological changes to take root.

“Digital transformation and cultural transformation processes continue to be key drivers of organisational adaptation, where interim professionals can accelerate the transition, provide impartiality and facilitate effective change management in environments characterised by high resistance or a need for speed.” — Begoña Hernández, partner at EPUNTO

Thus, interim management is not merely a technical solution. It is a tool that provides governance, financial expertise and leadership to manage resistance and ensure successful implementation.

 

From a one-off solution to a strategic lever

Rafael Bustamante Schneider summarises the evolution of the role: interim management “is evolving from being a one-off solution to a key strategy for business agility and transformation.” Digitalisation, economic uncertainty and flexible working arrangements have made interim managers key players in managing crises, succession and structural changes.

Looking ahead to 2026 (against a backdrop of enormous geopolitical, social and business uncertainty), “their experience and results-oriented approach will be even more decisive”.

“In 2026, against a backdrop of enormous geopolitical, social and business uncertainty, management skills, experience and, above all, a commitment to results will make interim managers an increasingly important factor in business management.” — Rafael Bustamante Schneider, partner at EPUNTO

This transformation means that organisations must stop viewing interim management as a stopgap and instead integrate it into their planning as a strategic resource to accelerate critical decision-making.

Agility and speed of response

Juan Manuel Gil de Escobar offers a practical perspective: “The market in Spain is maturing and adoption is growing, particularly amongst SMEs and family-run businesses.” However, there remains “some confusion regarding what interim management is and what it is not”. It is frequently “erroneously equated with recruitment and selection processes”. He calls for better communication regarding the scope, objectives and guarantees of the service to clearly differentiate it from headhunting.

“Our proposal processes are faster, even faster than the market demands” — Juan Manuel Gil de Escobar, managing partner at EPUNTO

Assignments retain their core nature (that is, clearly defined, results-oriented missions with an average duration of around six months), although they require greater customisation according to the client’s needs.

Conclusion and practical guidelines

The contributions converge on key points: AI enhances decision-making; senior talent provides immediate execution and mentoring; demand is expanding into finance, internationalisation and cultural transformation; and the market continues its process of professionalisation.

The challenge for the sector is to clearly communicate its unique value proposition and combine technology and experience to maximise impact.

EPUNTO Interim Management provides candidates with this combination of experience, immediacy and a results-oriented approach, to support organisations through their change processes and the challenges that 2026 will bring.