Article

Gravitas without a backstory: executive presence in interim roles

Kersty Bletso 27 May 2025

Permanent leaders are afforded the luxury of time. 

They build their presence gradually — through track record, informal networks, accumulated knowledge and the unspoken currency of trust that accrues with tenure. Their authority often rests as much on who they are in the organisation as what they say or do. 

Interim leaders, by contrast, arrive without a backstory. They step into unfamiliar settings, sometimes during moments of turbulence or change, and are expected to lead — decisively, credibly, and fast. 

In this context, executive presence is not a long game. It’s a first impression, a felt sense, a signal that says: I know what I’m doing, and I’m here for the right reasons. 

And the best interim leaders do exactly that — without overplaying their hand. 

Presence, not performance 

The seasoned interim doesn’t command attention through force of personality. Nor do they fall into the trap of trying to prove themselves too quickly. Instead, they rely on something subtler: composure, clarity, and judgement. 

They don’t arrive with just a spanner — they bring a full toolkit.
But more importantly, they know when to use which tool — and when to leave the box closed. That discretion is what marks out real executive presence in the interim world: not just capability, but calibrated capability. 

Signals of presence: what seasoned interims get right early on 

In observing and working with senior interim executives across sectors, I’ve seen a consistent pattern in how presence is established at pace. It’s less about content, and more about conduct. 

Here’s what tends to stand out: 

 

Tone over title

While the mandate may be clear, presence isn’t conferred by job title. It’s earned through calm authority, emotional intelligence and a thoughtful manner that puts others at ease. 

 

Judgement over volume

Effective interim leaders don’t over-talk. They choose their moments. They challenge without escalating, and guide without imposing. Their influence is quiet, but unmistakable. They won’t press an opinion if the client chooses a different path — presence allows for detachment without disengagement. 

 

Questions that change the conversation

Not generic icebreakers or posturing — but incisive, well-placed questions that reframe the problem or surface a hidden tension. Strategic curiosity is a powerful signal, grounded in breadth and depth of experience. 

 

Presence as signal

From how they navigate ambiguity to how they hold a room, interim leaders communicate confidence through pace, tone, silence and self-awareness — long before the first presentation deck is shared. 

 

Context over consistency

Gravitas doesn’t wear the same suit in every boardroom. What signals presence in a private equity-backed scale-up may look very different in a global financial institution. Seasoned interims read the cultural cues and adapt accordingly — without losing their core. 

Gravitas, reframed 

Too often, gravitas is confused with charisma or performance. But in the world of interim leadership, gravitas is less about dominance and more about discernment. 

It’s knowing when to speak and when to hold back. When to steer and when to observe. When to be the calm in the room — not just the expert voice. 

This kind of presence isn’t accidental. It’s honed. And for interim leaders, it’s indispensable. 

As someone who has spent over 20 years advising organisations on executive interim appointments, I’ve seen how presence — not position — defines success in these roles. At Leathwaite, we work with interim leaders who understand that impact begins not with a title, but with trust, clarity and timing. Presence, when done well, speaks for itself. 

Next week, I’ll explore how interim leaders build momentum without relying on formal authority — and why influence, not hierarchy, is often their most powerful tool. 

 

What have you seen the best interim leaders do differently in those crucial early days? 

Kersty Bletso

Kersty is a partner in Leathwaite’s global executive interim business, based in our London office. She is focused on appointing exceptional senior interim talent that drives transformation and value creation, across all sectors and industries, enabling clients to benefit from…

See full profile

More from us