Interim IT & Digital Director Drives Agile Transformation and Business Process Integration

The Client 

The client is a European manufacturer of glass packaging for the food and beverage industry. With modern production plants and a network of sales and distribution offices, the company operates across Central, Southern and Eastern Europe. Its business relies heavily on seamless IT systems to manage production, logistics, and customer relationships, makin digital integration top priority.

The Challenge 

As Interim Director of IT & Digital, reporting directly to the CEO, the executive led the transformation of technology frameworks and IT organizational structures to advance digitization across business processes. Key challenges included:

• Lack of Structure and Processes: The absence of formal processes for requirements management and project portfolio management.
• Project Overload: An opaque project portfolio with no clear priorities, where IT resources were perceived to be overcommitted across numerous projects.
• Critical Business Operations: Stabilizing IT operations to support the launch of a new production plant with an investment volume exceeding €400 million.
• Leadership Gap: The sudden vacancy of the Director of IT & Digital role, requiring quick recruitment of an expereinced manager to ensure operational continuity and execution of ongoing critical business projects.

The interim leader had to drive agile project management practices and introduce immediate corrective measures to stabilize IT operations while realigning priorities with business objectives.

The Solution

The interim executive quickly assessed the company’s situation by engaging key stakeholders and gaining insights into the organization.

Key actions included:

1. SWOT Analysis: Developed a SWOT matrix to identify strengths, weaknesses, risks, and challenges, providing strategic insights to leadership.
2. Agile Project Management: Introduced Scrum practices to enhance efficiency and ensure iterative progress on complex critical projects.
3. Roadmap Development: Defined a roadmap to prioritize high-impact projects and focus resources on essential initiatives.
4. Progress Reporting: Delivered regular updates to the board and steering committees, keeping leadership aligned with progress and decisions.

These actions provided clarity, stability, and strategic alignment, ensuring that business and IT objectives were continually synchronized.

The Results 

Key outcomes of the engagement included:

• Improved Transparency: Established a shared understanding between IT leadership and company management and all project staff involved on the status and priorities of ongoing projects.
• Optimized Resource Allocation: Activities of IT department focused particularly on efforts and on critical initiatives as well as related projects, such as the successful commissioning of fully automated inbound and outbound logistics at the new plant.
• Continuous Progress: Agile project management practices enabled the teams to deliver consistent results, aligned with strategic goals, leading to the successful launch of the plant.

The structured approach ensured stability, built momentum within teams, and laid the foundation for long-term operational success.

The Conclusion

The interim executive’s ability to balance short-term operational needs with strategic priorities was a decisive factor in the project’s success. His quick integration into the organization, combined with a collaborative leadership style, enabled teams to embrace new methods and align with business goals.

The stabilization of IT operations, along with the rapid introduction and adoption of agile practices, not only ensured the seamless launch of critical projects but also provided a framework for sustainable, long-term growth. This mission exemplifies how experienced interim leadership can bridge organizational gaps, drive transformation, and secure lasting results.

Looking for experienced interim leaders to drive transformation and ensure business success? Contact Georg Larch, Managing Partner at Boyden Interim Management, to explore tailored solutions for your organization.