Strategic Change Management

Marine engineers Brown Brothers & Go, a subsidiary of Vickers pic, is a supplier of stabilisers and steering systems to the world's navies and commercial fleets.

The company had been the subject of a review within Vickers, but in view of its sound performance and scope for development it became a core business in the Vickers Propulsion Technology Division. To develop the company and maximise results an ambitious 'Way Forward Programme' was launched. A month later the financial director left at short notice.

The role of FD was crucial to the change programme and a replacement was urgently required. Brown Brothers decided to take their time to recruit and in the meantime employ the services of an interim manager. Impact Executives placed interim David Wells as acting finance director.

David's primary objectives were to develop a new costing structure to provide relevant information for decision making on strategy, bidding for and sourcing new equipment, making recommendations to achieve labour cost-savings and identifying key performance indicators.

David was well suited to the role at Brown Brothers with his extensive financial management experience in manufacturing industries. He spent a period of five months at the company and comments: "I achieved all the objectives and was able to offer a fresh pair of eyes providing independent advice for the real improvement of the business."

Willie Reid, managing director of Brown Brothers says that his company gained significant benefits from David's services. He believes that hiring an interim manager can provide a unique solution to a business dilemma.