Decision Guide
Both strengthen your commercial function. They do different work. A market map gives you a written picture of the talent landscape and what it takes to attract the people you want. An interim commercial leader runs the function from the inside. Commissioned in the wrong order, the engagement gets messy.
When to use this guide
Use this guide when you have decided to strengthen your commercial leadership and you are choosing between a one-off market map and an ongoing interim engagement.
Any figures, fee bands, salary ranges or percentages quoted on this page are indicative narrative guidance from Evara's operator-led practice in 2026, not a formal benchmark or audited statistic.
A senior commercial leader running your sales function on a part-time basis, with decision rights and accountability for the number.
Best for
Watch out for
A structured review of the commercial talent landscape, ending in a written map of competitor structures, package benchmarks and the people worth knowing.
Best for
Watch out for
Side by side
| Dimension | Interim commercial leadership | Market map and talent review |
|---|---|---|
| Output | Operating cadence, hiring decisions, forecast and a stronger team | Written market map and a clear read on talent and packages |
| Engagement length | A defined window, often several months | A focused project scoped to the question |
| Cost basis | Scoped to days and seniority for the window | Fixed-fee project scoped to the depth of the map |
| Decision rights | In the room, with real authority over the commercial function | Advisory; recommendations to the leadership team and board |
| Best fit when | You know the issue and need execution leadership | You need an independent view of the market before deciding what to do |
| Risk of buying first | Buying without a market view can lock you into the wrong move | Buying without a follow-on plan leaves a report on the shelf |
Our take
In our experience most owner-managed intralogistics vendors do not have a precise view of where their commercial function is falling short or who is available in the market. A market map produces that picture and a prioritised plan. An interim leader, or a permanent hire, then acts on it. Skipping the map only makes sense when you are already certain about the issue and you need execution leadership immediately.
FAQs
Often the map comes first and informs everything that follows, whether that is an interim leader or a permanent hire. The map means nobody has to start from a blank sheet.
Usually soon after the map is delivered. Long enough for the leadership team to absorb the findings and decide which to action, short enough that the picture is still current.
That is a real outcome. Often the map shows the gap is a permanent Sales Director or Commercial Director hire, not an interim engagement. We will run the recruitment for that permanent leader if that is the recommendation.
Related Evara services
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Email Rachel Lunn to scope a short call on whether a market map, an interim engagement, or a recruitment brief is the right next step.
Email Rachel LunnSpecialist commercial search for the intralogistics industry. We reply within one working day.
Email Rachel Lunn