New MD coming in for an interview- what to ask him?

New MD coming in for an interview- what to ask him?

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Frimley111R

Original Poster:

15,537 posts

233 months

Tuesday 20th December 2016
quotequote all
Our company is getting a new MD and the one they are favouring is due to come in early in Jan to meet with the management team individually (of which I am one). What should I ask him? the business owner wants our feedback on whether he'll be good/work well with us/for us etc.

DanL

6,177 posts

264 months

Tuesday 20th December 2016
quotequote all
Think of a current business issue you have, or a problem you've resolved recently, and ask them what their approach to solving it would be. That plus some talk about his experience to find out what he knows and how you interact should give you a feel for him.

blindswelledrat

25,257 posts

231 months

Tuesday 20th December 2016
quotequote all
Don't do that. He will mark you down as a prick forever. Don't under any circumstances 'interview' him
I think there is only one answer really. Don't try and do anything, just have a chat and let him guide the conversation, and slip relevant questions in there during the chat.

ClaphamGT3

11,269 posts

242 months

Tuesday 20th December 2016
quotequote all
blindswelledrat said:
Don't do that. He will mark you down as a prick forever. Don't under any circumstances 'interview' him
I think there is only one answer really. Don't try and do anything, just have a chat and let him guide the conversation, and slip relevant questions in there during the chat.
Broadly agree with this. Ask him his views on corporate culture and values, his vision for the business, what attracts him to the business etc. on no account 'interview' him.

Remember; he will be forming a view on whether he wants to keep you in his senior team and you should be testing whether he is going to create/continue the environment that you want to work in

Vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Tuesday 20th December 2016
quotequote all

You could take a more open approach - a dialogue rather than interview

"What attracted you to our company?"
"What do see as the big challenges for the company and sector?"
"What do you see as the big opportunities in coming years?"
"What do you look for your management team?"
"What do you think success might look like for the first 30-60-90 days?"

Trabi601

4,865 posts

94 months

Tuesday 20th December 2016
quotequote all
Surely this is a 'get to know you', rather than an opportunity to grill him?

I'd just keep it casual, find out what he's like as a person, rather than what his corporate strategy may be - you'll find that out soon enough!

SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

252 months

Tuesday 20th December 2016
quotequote all
Your boss has lobbed you a hand-grenade here.

I can see a couple of ways this goes well and twenty ways this is a disaster!

Beetnik

502 posts

183 months

Wednesday 21st December 2016
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"One lump or two?"
"Full fat or semi-skimmed?"
"Darjeeling or Earl Grey?"

Iva Barchetta

44,044 posts

162 months

Wednesday 21st December 2016
quotequote all
Don't start with "So".........nono

Thread in lounge titled...."fired for saying "so"....

Edited by Iva Barchetta on Wednesday 21st December 00:43

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 21st December 2016
quotequote all
why would the md ask you for feedback on how you get on, after already giving him the job. Surely that is something at the interview stage to work out?

I would say he is feeling the management team out and what deadwood they can get rid off.
I had a MD nice as pie to your face, but used people as his enforcers and made out he knew nothing about it.

IanCormac

1,894 posts

192 months

Wednesday 21st December 2016
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I'm curious, who interviewed him for the job if not the current management team? Who are 'they'?

Countdown

39,690 posts

195 months

Wednesday 21st December 2016
quotequote all
IanCormac said:
I'm curious, who interviewed him for the job if not the current management team? Who are 'they'?
The Board / Owners.

The incoming CEO will (IME) have been interviewed by Chair, a NED, and HR Director. Usually the top 3 candidates mix with the Board over a lunch or something and then give their feedback to interview panel afterwards. It's also a good way for the new CEO to find out what their direct reports are like.

Edited by Countdown on Wednesday 21st December 07:22

TIGA84

5,204 posts

230 months

Wednesday 21st December 2016
quotequote all
Frimley111R said:
Our company is getting a new MD and the one they are favouring is due to come in early in Jan to meet with the management team individually (of which I am one). What should I ask him? the business owner wants our feedback on whether he'll be good/work well with us/for us etc.
Has he been offered the job yet?

ETA is he CEO or MD?

TIGA84

5,204 posts

230 months

Wednesday 21st December 2016
quotequote all
blindswelledrat said:
"Don't under any circumstances 'interview' him"

"slip relevant questions in there during the chat."
Whats the difference here?

blindswelledrat

25,257 posts

231 months

Wednesday 21st December 2016
quotequote all
TIGA84 said:
blindswelledrat said:
"Don't under any circumstances 'interview' him"

"slip relevant questions in there during the chat."
Whats the difference here?
I get your point. I was just saying have a normal conversation really and that it was fine to ask questions if they were conversational but definitely not fine to have a list of questions as though you were grilling him

ATG

20,485 posts

271 months

Wednesday 21st December 2016
quotequote all
TIGA84 said:
ETA is he CEO or MD?
In the UK they are generally the same thing. What distinction were you trying to make?

TIGA84

5,204 posts

230 months

Wednesday 21st December 2016
quotequote all
blindswelledrat said:
I get your point. I was just saying have a normal conversation really and that it was fine to ask questions if they were conversational but definitely not fine to have a list of questions as though you were grilling him
I get your point.

hehe

TIGA84

5,204 posts

230 months

Wednesday 21st December 2016
quotequote all
ATG said:
In the UK they are generally the same thing. What distinction were you trying to make?
Someone mentioned MD, someone mentioned CEO, I wondered which it was.

I have both and have had before, I've always had MD as operational primarily facing downwards (direct reports, performance, bottom line etc) and CEO, less operational and facing upwards (shareholders, strategy, direction, markets etc).

Ms R.Saucy

284 posts

89 months

Wednesday 21st December 2016
quotequote all
ATG said:
TIGA84 said:
ETA is he CEO or MD?
In the UK they are generally the same thing. What distinction were you trying to make?
CEO/chief Exec/ MD are usually synoms in UK practice ...

an 'executive chairman ' is a MD/CE who doesn;t have a chairman of the board as a seperate role ( chair being Chief NED)

Frimley111R

Original Poster:

15,537 posts

233 months

Thursday 22nd December 2016
quotequote all
Good advice. The current owners have met him and like him but want to double check with us to see if we agree. Its not our decision of course but I wanted to ask him something constructive but not interview him as such as that's not what its supposed to be about.

I'll remember not ot start with 'So...' hehe