When Rikke Dræbye Gantzhorn was contacted by Nordic Interim, she had no plans to take on an executive interim role. However, the challenge was too exciting to turn down, and she was engaged as Interim Director at FrederiksborgCentret/ Royal Stage, reporting directly to the chairman of the board but operates within the organization, outside the traditional CEO structure.
“The setup was unique – I wasn’t part of the management team and didn’t report to the CEO, but I was inside the company, working on behalf of the board,” she explains.
It wasn’t unfamiliar territory. With earlier leadership roles, she brought experience in optimizing commercial real estate, venue operations, commercial transformation and strategic execution. This mix was exactly what FrederiksborgCentret/Royal Stage needed.
Originally a short-term assignment, everything changed after just 8 weeks. The board decided to change the CEO, and Rikke was offered the role of interim CEO. “I could continue implementing what the board had asked me to do, but now with the full authority to execute and as interim CEO, it was a good way for both sides to test the fit,” says Rikke.
Transformation in Motion
FrederiksborgCentret/Royal Stage is undergoing significant change. “It’s essentially two full-time jobs”, she says. “You’re managing the daily operations while executing on strategic transformation. I love it – the people, the projects, the potential.”
She highlights the importance of collaboration, particularly with the municipality. “We’re combining the commercial mindset with the public sector’s service perspective. That means thinking of people and users with a focus on high quality, user experience and customer service. Bringing in an outside-in perspective is key,” she explains.
That shift also requires new competencies, fresh processes, smarter pricing, and an entirely customer-driven approach. “It’s a big change, but the organization is ready. There’s a good momentum to redeem the potential.”
Why Interim Management is the perfect solution
Coming in as an Interim Director gave Rikke a unique starting point. “As a neutral person, people opened up. There were no preconceived roles or expectations. It allowed me to implement quickly, without an onboarding period, and that saved the organization both time and money,” she says.
Her view of Executive Interim Management has changed radically. “I used to think of Interim Managers as people between jobs. Now I see the value – it’s a strategic way to inject experience and pace exactly when and where it’s needed.”
A Strong Partnership
The process with Nordic Interim was smooth. “Ole Perregaard did a fantastic job. He followed up, supported me throughout the assignment, and made sure everything felt secure.”
Life Beyond Work
Outside of her role, Rikke enjoys family life with her husband, teenage twin boys, outdoor training, running, and spending time with friends. When in Copenhagen, she recommends an FCK-football game at Parken Stadium, visiting Tivoli, grabbing a Danish pastry, and walking along the harbour.
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