Interim Sales Manager (Interim CSO) for B2B companies
When your sales manager has left, growth has stalled, or you're entering a new market — we place an experienced sales leader in your team for 3-6 months.
An interim sales manager is an experienced Chief Sales Officer (CSO) who joins your company temporarily — usually 3-6 months — to run the sales team, fix the sales process and unlock growth. Unlike a consultant, they don't just advise; they run it. Built for B2B companies in Estonia, the Baltics and the Nordics whose sales leader has left, whose founder can no longer sell everything alone, or where the board expects visible change within a quarter.
When to bring in an interim sales manager
- Sales manager has left and hiring will take 3-6 months
- Company is growing and the founder is the bottleneck
- Sales results have stalled and you need an outside view
- You are entering a new market (Estonia, Baltics, Nordics)
- Investor or board expects visible change this quarter
- Sales process and metrics need to be built from scratch
How we work — a 4-month plan
- Month 1 — Sales audit and mapping
Team, pipeline, process, metrics, CRM, pricing, competitors. A clear picture of where we are and the top-3 priorities for the next quarter.
- Month 2 — Process and discipline
New routines: weekly pipeline reviews, 1:1s, forecasting. Missing playbooks and templates. Joint customer visits where useful.
- Month 3 — Execution and results
New deals, new markets, refilled pipeline. Weekly report to owner or board. Decisions on who to develop and who to replace.
- Month 4 — Handover
Recruit the permanent sales leader (with our recruitment team) or promote an internal one. Clean handover with continued fractional support.
- • B2B company, revenue €1M-€30M
- • Existing sales team of 2-15 people
- • Owner / CEO ready to make real changes
- • Clear commercial goal for the next 6-12 months
- • Pure B2C retail or e-commerce
- • Expectation the interim leader will sell alone without a team
- • Expectation of turning results around in 2 weeks without process change
- • Owner is not willing to change how they operate
Frequently asked questions
What is an interim sales manager?
An interim sales manager (Interim CSO / Chief Sales Officer) is an experienced sales leader who joins your company for an agreed period — typically 3-6 months — to run the sales team, fix the sales process, open new markets or bridge a leadership gap. Unlike a consultant, they don't just advise; they take operational responsibility for the result.
When should we hire an interim sales manager?
When your sales manager has left and permanent recruitment will take 3-6 months; when the founder is doing all the selling and can't scale; when growth has stalled and you need an outside view; when you enter a new market and need a local commercial lead; or when investors or the board expect visible change within a quarter.
How long is an interim engagement?
Typically 3-6 months, often a fixed 4-month period. We extend when needed or transition into a fractional model — a few days per week — until a permanent hire is in place and up to speed.
How quickly can the interim manager start?
Usually within 1-2 weeks of signing. The first 2 weeks are a structured sales audit: team, pipeline, process, tooling and market. From week 3, concrete changes start.
How much does it cost?
Interim CSO engagements start at €75/hour or a fixed monthly fee based on workload (2-5 days per week). For a 6-month fixed project we provide a transparent monthly retainer. Final price depends on team size, markets and ambition level.
Will the interim manager replace our existing sales team?
No. They lead the existing team, coach individuals, install missing routines and metrics, and drive discipline. They also help hire new sellers and, if necessary, support hard decisions about who fits the future team.
How is this different from sales consulting?
A consultant analyses and recommends. An interim sales manager runs the team. They sit in your office (or remote weekly), join customer meetings, run 1:1s, own the forecast to the board and are accountable for agreed outcomes.
Let's see if an interim sales manager fits your situation
A 30-minute introductory call — free and non-binding. We'll listen, and give you an honest view of whether and how we can help.