---
title: "Case Study: Appointing an Interim CEO to Support Stability, Strategy and Board-Led Change"
description: "Case Study: Appointing an Interim CEO to Support Stability, Strategy and Board-Led Change Finding Yellow Client: Finding Yellow Role: Interim Chief Executive Officer (6-month appointment) Search Type: Retained Interim Executive Search Sector: Disability Services Location: Regional Australia The Challenge Finding Yellow, a regional disability services organisation, was navigating a period of significant organisational change led […]"
featured_image: "https://beexecutive.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Copy-of-Insta-Post-1-33.png"
url: "https://beexecutive.com.au/case-study-appointing-interim-ceo/"
date_modified: "2026-02-02T15:13:16+11:00"
---

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**Case Study: Appointing an Interim CEO to Support Stability, Strategy and Board-Led Change**

**Finding Yellow**

**Client:** Finding Yellow
**Role:** Interim Chief Executive Officer (6-month appointment)
**Search Type:** Retained Interim Executive Search
**Sector:** Disability Services
**Location:** Regional Australia

**The Challenge**

Finding Yellow, a regional disability services organisation, was navigating a period of **significant organisational change** led by the Board. While strategic decisions about the future direction of the organisation were being considered at Board level, there was a clear need for **dedicated executive leadership** to support the team, maintain service continuity, and progress the organisation’s strategic and operational priorities.

The organisation required an Interim CEO who could:

- Provide **stability and reassurance** to staff during a period of uncertainty
- Support the Board while it considered the **best future course for the organisation**
- Maintain focus on service quality, people leadership and operational delivery
- Progress elements of the organisation’s **future strategy**, without pre-empting Board decisions
- Operate effectively in a **regional context**, where leadership capability and change capacity are often more constrained

This was not a caretaking role. The Interim CEO needed to add value immediately, while working collaboratively with an active and engaged Board.

**Our Approach**

Be Recruitment partnered with Finding Yellow through a **retained interim executive search**, enabling a focused and timely appointment aligned to the organisation’s needs.

Our approach included:

- Working closely with the Board to clarify the **scope, authority and mandate** of the interim role
- Understanding the organisational context, workforce needs and service delivery pressures
- Identifying interim executives with experience in:
  - disability services and purpose-led organisations
  - supporting teams through periods of change
  - working alongside Boards during strategic review and transition
- Assessing candidates on their ability to balance **people leadership, operational oversight and strategic contribution**
- Ensuring strong **values alignment**, judgement and emotional intelligence

Particular emphasis was placed on the ability to build trust quickly with staff, stakeholders and the Board.

**The Outcome**

The retained search resulted in the successful appointment of an **Interim CEO** for a six-month period, providing Finding Yellow with:

- Leadership stability during a period of Board-led change
- Support and continuity for staff and leaders
- Ongoing operational and strategic focus
- Executive capacity to contribute constructively to future planning
- Confidence that the organisation was well-led while longer-term decisions were being made

The appointment created space for the Board to do its work thoughtfully, while ensuring the organisation remained focused on its purpose and people.

**Why Retained Interim Search Was Critical**

This assignment required **speed, judgement and fit**.

A retained interim approach enabled:

- Access to experienced interim leaders not available through open advertising
- Careful matching of capability to a **time-bound, sensitive mandate**
- Confidence that the interim CEO would complement — not compete with — Board leadership
- Ongoing advisory support to the Board throughout the interim period
- A high-confidence appointment aligned to the organisation’s values and regional context

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**The Result**

✔ A successful interim CEO appointment in a regional disability organisation
✔ Stability and support for staff during organisational change
✔ Continued operational and strategic momentum
✔ A trusted recruitment partnership supporting the Board through complexity