When Infranord found itself without an IT manager in the middle of business planning and budgeting, the timing was far from ideal. With high digital ambitions and ongoing complex projects, there was no room for pause. The solution was to quickly bring in an interim IT Manager. The choice fell on Karin Twena, an experienced IT leader with a background at, among others, Afry, Accenture, Skandia, and Skanska.
We spoke with Marie Forsström, Head of Business Development, IT & Sustainability at Infranord, and Karin Twena, who recently completed her assignment as interim IT Manager, to hear more about their shared journey.
Marie, tell us about the initial situation when you reached out to Nordic Interim?
“Our former IT Manager resigned at the beginning of July, right in the middle of a very intense phase in the business. IT is a critical function in our transformation journey, and we couldn’t afford to lose momentum. We needed someone who could quickly take responsibility and hold the fort until we found a permanent solution. We contacted Nordic Interim the next day, and within that same week, we had a requirement profile and three relevant candidates. We immediately took a liking to Karin Twena, and within a week, everything was in place. I could go on summer vacation with peace of mind!”
Karin, what was it like to quickly get up to speed with the organization?
“It was a high-paced environment from day one. I started on September 1 and was immediately thrown into the budget and business planning process. As an Interim Manager, you need to be able to act operationally from day one – and that was certainly the case here. I had 13 direct reports and many parallel projects to get acquainted with, all while being responsible for the entire IT function, including budget, IT security, infrastructure, and operational management.”
Marie, what was most important to you when engaging an interim IT Manager?
“We needed an experienced and confident leader who could make decisions immediately and at the same time instil calm in the team. Someone who could drive delivery, lead the team, and manage the change process. Karin did a fantastic job and received very positive feedback after presenting the budget together with her team. She landed running – exactly what we needed.”
Karin, what was the key to your success?
“I approached the role with the mindset that I am part of the organization, not an external consultant. That makes a big difference. With my background as both a consultant and CIO, I adapt quickly to new environments and understand what needs to be done. In an interim assignment, you must swiftly gain a holistic understanding and start delivering.”
What were your responsibilities?
“In addition to budget and planning work, I also helped lead renegotiations with major IT suppliers and continued the effort to modernize Infranord’s technology. The organization was very engaged, and there was a strong need to talk about the future IT strategy and business support. It was rewarding to see how quickly value can be created when there is a clear mandate and concrete needs.”
Marie, how do you view the value of engaging an Executive Interim Manager?
“In our case, given where we were and the transformation journey, we were on, it was absolutely essential. To stay on course and maintain a high pace during the interim period without a permanent manager in place. But it’s not just about vacancies – it can also be relevant if a team isn’t functioning optimally or when you are undergoing a transformation and don’t yet know exactly what the next role will demand. In those cases, it’s invaluable to bring in an interim professional who is neutral, can perform an objective analysis, make tough decisions, and at the same time define needs and the profile for the future.”
Karin, what will you take away from this assignment?
“How much can actually be accomplished in a short period of time. With the right mandate, clear expectations, and committed people around you, it’s possible to make a real impact – fast. This was my first assignment as an Interim Manager, and Clara Scherman from Nordic Interim was incredibly supportive throughout the process. I felt both secure and well-supported. This confirmed for me that Interim Management is absolutely the right career path for me.”
Marie, how would you summarize the collaboration with Nordic Interim?
“Absolutely excellent. It was professional, fast, and seamless. You delivered exactly what we needed – high-quality results at high speed. I would happily work with you again.”
#ITManager