Decided is not done.
I am an interim executive and senior advisor. I help companies turn an operational change into everyday practice that still works after the project team has left.
See when I step inWhen I step in
Most often when a new direction is set but everyday execution stalls. Or when the leadership team needs absolute clarity on what it is committing to.
PICK A SITUATION AND I WILL TELL YOU HOW I HELP
Interim Executive
I take charge of the execution as an Interim Executive. We break down the high-level goals into concrete roles, operating models and structures. I am accountable for ensuring the change achieves the targeted business benefits and becomes visible in both proactive daily actions and lagging high-level metrics.
Typical format: interim 6–12 months
AI Leadership Program
I help executives integrate AI into the entire decision-making process. Together we define its role in the data preparation phase, the actual decision moment and the outcome monitoring. We also establish the rules for which decision gates must be passed, how the AI contribution is kept transparent and how ultimate accountability is determined.
Typical format: leadership program 8–10 weeks
Interim Executive
I take the helm from within the line organization. We build a clear management rhythm and situational awareness that keep everyday operations and customer service levels stable throughout the transition. My work ends when the new structure is fully established.
Typical format: interim 6–12 months
Four ways to work together
The format depends on how deep into the organization the change needs to go.
I take a role within the line organization and drive the execution from the inside. I take charge of the daily operations until the results are stable and the organization is ready for a permanent successor.
I work alongside the executive who owns the change. You retain full line accountability and decision-making authority, while I bring the execution experience. Together we ensure you have the right structures in place to see the change through.
A concentrated program to integrate AI into your leadership team’s decision-making. We examine your actual decision processes, establish the rules of engagement and build a working model around real decisions at varying strategic levels.
A confidential sounding board for the executive who owns operations. Your agenda, my line experience. We separate the root cause from the symptom. Once you know the why, your organization solves the how.
I come in from the outside but make the change happen together with your people.
Not sure which one fits? Start with an intake call.
Scale and proof of execution
All figures from executive roles at Telia, over more than 20 years.
A positive bottom-line impact in the tens of millions of euros, alongside a significant increase in customer satisfaction (NPS).
SituationDevelopment portfolio initiatives lacked alignment with customer needs, and the true return on investment (ROI) remained unclear.
ExecutionWe built a value realization framework for development benefits. I integrated business benefit verification and P&L accountability directly into the development process. We boosted the share of customer-validated initiatives from zero to 67 percent in just six months.
Structures have been successfully shifted in both directions without a single disruption in the customer interface or production.
SituationOver the years, I have led numerous structural shifts, including launching partner operations, site consolidations and business transfers. One of the most demanding single transitions was insourcing a 300+ person operation from a vendor.
ExecutionI led these changes on the terms of operational continuity. During this massive insourcing, for example, we did not simply revert to old ways. We built a completely new in-house operating model while keeping the sales service running without interruption.
The worst-performing site became the best in six months. We retained a six-figure number of at-risk customers and sustained employee engagement above 90 percent throughout the heavy transitions.
SituationCustomer churn was high, sales were lagging and performance gaps between sites were massive. Repeated organizational changes were taking a toll on the personnel.
ExecutionWe implemented a new proactive operating model for churn management and shifted a 200-person organization from reactive order taking to active sales. We invested heavily in developing line managers through coaching-based leadership.
Making demanding strategic decisions is difficult. Turning those decisions into measurable everyday results is the phase that defines the actual success of a change.
Juha Haapala
Did people understand the why before they were told the how?
My official profile states that I align business strategy, people and customer experience in multi-million-euro transformations.
Stripped of the corporate jargon, my job is much simpler.
I make sure that when a company decides to change, the change actually happens.
I developed this pragmatic approach over my 20 years in leadership roles. When you manage the daily operations of a 1,000-person organization or hold accountability for multi-million-euro development portfolios, you quickly learn what works in the real world and what only lives on a whiteboard.
Today, I bring this reality check to the hardest execution challenges companies face. A key part of my method is using AI to accelerate these transformations. I drive the core operational change to the finish line while simultaneously embedding practical AI into everyday workflows. The outcome is twofold: the transformation is executed faster and the organization is permanently upgraded.
To support this, my current research focuses on how executive teams and steering committees integrate generative AI into their own decision-making processes.
Work history on LinkedInHow we start
- 1Intake call (20 minutes). We discuss your situation and goals. I will tell you directly if I am the right person for the job. If not, I will point you in the right direction within my network.
- 2One-page proposal. You will receive a written proposal within three working days. It covers the outcome, my role, duration and pricing. No heavy slide decks.
- 3Kickoff and execution. We take control of the situation and start the work together with the key people in your organization.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a consultant and an interim executive?
A consultant analyzes and recommends. An interim executive takes charge and makes the change happen in everyday life. My core work is ensuring strategic decisions become a permanent part of the organization’s daily operations and deliver measurable results.
Why hire an interim executive instead of recruiting someone permanent?
An interim executive is the answer when the change cannot wait for a recruitment. I start within weeks, take the role and carry the change into everyday work. At the same time I prepare the seat for a permanent successor, and I succeed when your organization carries on without me.
How quickly can a transformation leader start?
Subject to capacity, I start within weeks. The value of an interim executive lies in speed when a key role is suddenly vacant or strategy execution stalls.
How is AI integrated into leadership team decisions?
We first map the leadership team’s decision processes. Then we establish clear rules on when AI is used for data preparation and who carries the ultimate accountability for the final call.
What happens when the engagement ends?
My goal is to make myself obsolete. My work ends when I transfer the responsibility to a permanent successor. Together we ensure that daily operations, the management rhythm and the results remain stable even after I am gone.
Contact
The decision is just the beginning. When your organization needs an experienced executive to drive the change home, book an intake call.
- [email protected]
- +358 40 254 7135
- linkedin.com/in/juhahaapala
- Turku · Finland and the Nordics