We had the pleasure of talking to Simon Frei, Managing Partner at FS Partners, the newest member of Valtus Group, to discuss his unique career path, the growth and positioning of FS Partners, and the state of the Executive Interim Management market in Switzerland today.
FS Partners has established a strong position in the Swiss Interim Management market. Could you introduce us to the company?
“FS Partners is a Swiss-based boutique consultancy focused on Interim Management and strategic transformation support, especially within the finance function. We help companies navigate critical phases such as restructurings, leadership gaps, or transformation initiatives by providing seasoned interim executives, mainly in CFO or finance-related roles. Since our founding in 2009, we’ve become a trusted partner in this niche, with over 550 successful projects and a network of more than 450 clients.”
How did FS Partners come to life?
“My own professional journey played a major role. I started my career in 1985 as a commercial apprentice and pursued my MBA while working as a controller. Over the years, I worked as CFO in several international corporations, including a role as CFO Asia for Oerlikon in China. Eventually, I realized the traditional corporate path wasn’t for me – I had reached as far as I could as a full-time CFO. That’s when I decided to pivot. In 2009, I founded FS Partners, initially offering myself as an Interim CFO and project manager.”
So, FS Partners started out as a one-man show?
“Exactly! For about 10 years, it was mostly me taking on interim roles. But I quickly noticed a growing demand. More and more companies were looking for high-level, yet flexible support in finance. So, I began to build a team – experienced finance professionals who could jump in at short notice. That’s when FS Partners really started to grow.”
What makes FS Partners different in a mature market like Switzerland?
“Our strength lies in our niche focus and the competence we bring. We concentrate on finance and transformation roles, and our clients value our deep understanding of those areas. Being a former CFO myself, I truly understand clients’ needs, which makes a huge difference in selecting the right person for the task. Also, we’re very hands-on – we offer personal support through a committed core team. This ‘boutique’ approach remains at the heart of what we do.”
How has your offering evolved over the years?
“Initially, FS Partners specialized almost exclusively in finance and CFO roles. We’ve since built a small but efficient talent pool of about 100 Interim Professionals, of which we actively deploy 70–80 per year. That level of engagement shows both the loyalty of our experts and the trust of our clients. Most recently, joining the Valtus Group and the international network Valtus Alliance has been a game-changer for us. It will allow us to expand our offering into additional interim roles such as CEO, CIO, and HR.”
What’s it like integrating a boutique firm into an international group like Valtus?
“It’s definitely a balancing act. On the one hand, joining Valtus gives us a broader reach and access to cross-border opportunities – our first international assignment with Valtus Germany is already underway. On the other hand, we’re committed to preserving our Swiss boutique identity – our personal, tailored way of working is what our clients know us for. The challenge now is: how do we keep that magic while scaling up?”
How is the Interim Management market evolving in Switzerland?
“It’s a mature and competitive market, especially in the German-speaking regions. There are a number of large players offering interim professionals on the C-level. What we’re also seeing is a mindset shift: more professionals, including younger generations, are choosing to work as interims to gain independence and flexibility. Interim Management has really come of age in Switzerland. Companies increasingly see the value of experienced, flexible leadership during key transitions. At FS Partners, our job is to make sure they find the right person fast – and with confidence. That’s our mission, and that’s what drives me every day.”
You’re active only in German-speaking Switzerland today – but that’s about to change?
“Yes. We’re now expanding into the French-speaking part of Switzerland. This region has its own culture, language, and business rhythm. To succeed there, we know we need to be present physically, not just remotely. That’s why we’re setting up a dedicated office to better serve French-speaking clients and candidates.”
Who should consider hiring an Interim Manager – and when?
“We usually step in when there’s an urgent need: a key vacancy, a transformation project, or an unexpected departure. Our clients typically receive carefully matched CVs within 20 hours and can have someone start almost immediately. Interim Managers are perfect for navigating change – they’re objective, not caught in company politics, and bring experience that is hard to find internally. Once the mission is completed, they move on. It’s a flexible, effective approach.”
Looking ahead – what’s next for FS Partners?
“Our focus now is growing along with Valtus in the DACH region – Switzerland, Austria, and Germany – while maintaining our boutique strength. We want to stay agile, personal, and quality-driven. Cross-border assignments are increasing, which is exciting. In Switzerland, we’ll continue to deepen our role as the go-to partner for interim leadership during critical times.”
As our conversation with Simon Frei reveals, FS Partners is not just filling interim roles – It’s leading the evolution of Interim Management in Switzerland. With over 15 years of exp“Leading change when it matters most” – An interview with Simon Frei, Managing Partner of FS Partners, on the future of Executive Interim Management in Switzerland
We had the pleasure of talking to Simon Frei, Managing Partner at FS Partners, the newest member of Valtus Group, to discuss his unique career path, the growth and positioning of FS Partners, and the state of the Executive Interim Management market in Switzerland today.
FS Partners has established a strong position in the Swiss Interim Management market. Could you introduce us to the company?
“FS Partners is a Swiss-based boutique consultancy focused on Interim Management and strategic transformation support, especially within the finance function. We help companies navigate critical phases such as restructurings, leadership gaps, or transformation initiatives by providing seasoned interim executives, mainly in CFO or finance-related roles. Since our founding in 2009, we’ve become a trusted partner in this niche, with over 550 successful projects and a network of more than 450 clients.”
How did FS Partners come to life?
“My own professional journey played a major role. I started my career in 1985 as a commercial apprentice and pursued my MBA while working as a controller. Over the years, I worked as CFO in several international corporations, including a role as CFO Asia for Oerlikon in China. Eventually, I realized the traditional corporate path wasn’t for me – I had reached as far as I could as a full-time CFO. That’s when I decided to pivot. In 2009, I founded FS Partners, initially offering myself as an Interim CFO and project manager.”
So, FS Partners started out as a one-man show?
“Exactly! For about 10 years, it was mostly me taking on interim roles. But I quickly noticed a growing demand. More and more companies were looking for high-level, yet flexible support in finance. So, I began to build a team – experienced finance professionals who could jump in at short notice. That’s when FS Partners really started to grow.”
What makes FS Partners different in a mature market like Switzerland?
“Our strength lies in our niche focus and the competence we bring. We concentrate on finance and transformation roles, and our clients value our deep understanding of those areas. Being a former CFO myself, I truly understand clients’ needs, which makes a huge difference in selecting the right person for the task. Also, we’re very hands-on – we offer personal support through a committed core team. This ‘boutique’ approach remains at the heart of what we do.”
How has your offering evolved over the years?
“Initially, FS Partners specialized almost exclusively in finance and CFO roles. We’ve since built a small but efficient talent pool of about 100 Interim Professionals, of which we actively deploy 70–80 per year. That level of engagement shows both the loyalty of our experts and the trust of our clients. Most recently, joining the Valtus Group and the international network Valtus Alliance has been a game-changer for us. It will allow us to expand our offering into additional interim roles such as CEO, CIO, and HR.”
What’s it like integrating a boutique firm into an international group like Valtus?
“It’s definitely a balancing act. On the one hand, joining Valtus gives us a broader reach and access to cross-border opportunities – our first international assignment with Valtus Germany is already underway. On the other hand, we’re committed to preserving our Swiss boutique identity – our personal, tailored way of working is what our clients know us for. The challenge now is: how do we keep that magic while scaling up?”
How is the Interim Management market evolving in Switzerland?
“It’s a mature and competitive market, especially in the German-speaking regions. There are a number of large players offering interim professionals on the C-level. What we’re also seeing is a mindset shift: more professionals, including younger generations, are choosing to work as interims to gain independence and flexibility. Interim Management has really come of age in Switzerland. Companies increasingly see the value of experienced, flexible leadership during key transitions. At FS Partners, our job is to make sure they find the right person fast – and with confidence. That’s our mission, and that’s what drives me every day.”
You’re active only in German-speaking Switzerland today – but that’s about to change?
“Yes. We’re now expanding into the French-speaking part of Switzerland. This region has its own culture, language, and business rhythm. To succeed there, we know we need to be present physically, not just remotely. That’s why we’re setting up a dedicated office to better serve French-speaking clients and candidates.”
Who should consider hiring an Interim Manager – and when?
“We usually step in when there’s an urgent need: a key vacancy, a transformation project, or an unexpected departure. Our clients typically receive carefully matched CVs within 20 hours and can have someone start almost immediately. Interim Managers are perfect for navigating change – they’re objective, not caught in company politics, and bring experience that is hard to find internally. Once the mission is completed, they move on. It’s a flexible, effective approach.”
Looking ahead – what’s next for FS Partners?
“Our focus now is growing along with Valtus in the DACH region – Switzerland, Austria, and Germany – while maintaining our boutique strength. We want to stay agile, personal, and quality-driven. Cross-border assignments are increasing, which is exciting. In Switzerland, we’ll continue to deepen our role as the go-to partner for interim leadership during critical times.”
As our conversation with Simon Frei reveals, FS Partners is not just filling interim roles – It’s leading the evolution of Interim Management in Switzerland. With over 15 years of experience, a focus on finance, and a commitment to quality and personal service, the company has earned its reputation as a trusted boutique consultancy. Now, as part of the international Valtus Group, FS Partners is poised for even greater impact, expanding its geographic reach and service offerings while staying true to its core values.
In a fast-changing business environment, the need for agile, experienced leadership has never been greater. Whether bridging a critical vacancy or driving transformation, FS Partners is helping Swiss and DACH-region companies navigate complexity with confidence.erience, a focus on finance, and a commitment to quality and personal service, the company has earned its reputation as a trusted boutique consultancy. Now, as part of the international Valtus Group, FS Partners is poised for even greater impact, expanding its geographic reach and service offerings while staying true to its core values.
In a fast-changing business environment, the need for agile, experienced leadership has never been greater. Whether bridging a critical vacancy or driving transformation, FS Partners is helping Swiss and DACH-region companies navigate complexity with confidence.
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