Emma Combe
speaker
323 appearances
4 recordings
1 series
first heard Jan 2026
last heard 9 Sep
Emma Combe’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.
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recordings per month · last 12 monthsRecordings per month over the last 12 months — 4 in all, peaking in Sep 2026 with 1.
Appearances
And in others, it may be more appropriate to focus on maintaining stability and leave major strategic decisions to the permanent leader once they're in place.
But the common thread throughout is how important it is to communicate, communicate, communicate, build clarity, not only because it helps you focus on what's important, but it helps you build strong relationships and ultimately that trust.
Justice, I'd like to turn back to you.
Can you share any other advice you might have on how you can go about building trust as an interim CEO?
What I particularly like about that example, Justice, is that the interim CEO didn't assume the answer sat only around the executive table.
And we've actually spoken about this previously on our podcast, how important it is that CEOs conduct a skip level exercise and go a level below their direct reports to really hear what's going on.
Going deeper into the organisation also tells people that you're listening, that you're curious and that you're making decisions based on a broad understanding of what's happening across the business.
And I completely agree with the importance of removing ego from the equation.
Whether or not you want the permanent role, people need to believe that your decisions are being made in the best interests of the organisation.
I'd like to turn back to you now, Effie.
In some cases, interim CEOs go on to secure the role permanently.
Six months after Michael Bender's appointment at Retailer Coles in May 2025, he was named permanent after significantly lifting sales.
And Hayes PLC made Mark Durnley permanent in May this year, after he moved from chief digital officer into the interim CEO role in February.
So Effie, if you're an interim CEO and your ambition is to become permanent, when is the right time to have the conversation with the board?
That must have been a fascinating situation, Effie, to be involved in.
And it does show the importance of having a continual dialogue because actually the individual's motivations could have shifted during the course of the project and making sure that you don't check in once or twice, but repeatedly is critical.
And while being clear about your ambitions doesn't guarantee you'll be selected for the role, it does ensure that everyone is making decisions with the same understanding and expectations in mind.
And perhaps that's the thread running through this entire conversation.
The most successful interim CEOs are clear on their mandate, transparent about their intentions and focused on creating value for the organisation from day one.
Whether their tenure lasts six months or six years, they're able to build trust, provide stability and leave the business stronger than they found it.
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