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Case Study

Netcetera (A): Hiring an external CEO?

By Ralf W. Seifert and Jana Thiel

8 pages

June 2006

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Reference: IMD-3-1670

The A-case in this three-part series describes the development of the Zurich-based software provider Netcetera from its inception in 1996 to spring 2000. The firm had grown remarkably and its four co-founders envisioned further expansion. Yet in early 2000 they realized that there was no time for handling strategic issues–management resources were completely taken up with winning new customers and dealing with the internal complexity caused by the increasing number of employees. They considered recruiting an external CEO to address their challenges, and had even identified a candidate. The case provides a vehicle for participants to evaluate the pros and cons of hiring an external manager to facilitate growth, including the fit of the identified candidate.

Keywords

Growth Management, Chief Executive Officer, Strategy Implementation

Settings

Switzerland
Spring 2000

Type

Field Research

Available Languages

English

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