Interim Marketing Manager for consumer brands and corporations
I take on marketing roles for a fixed period, from product management to head of marketing: during a vacancy, as cover, for a launch or a reorganisation. More than twenty years in marketing, including ten years of brand management at Ferrero, Reckitt Benckiser and Scotts Celaflor, and an interim manager since 2012.
- Employed at
- Ferrero, Reckitt Benckiser, Scotts Celaflor
- Interim roles
- Product management to head of marketing
- Available
- immediately
At a glance
Tab. 1.2
Roles
- Interim management in marketing, from product management to head of marketing
- Marketing and brand consulting
Industries
- Food: confectionery and convenience food
- Household and personal care
- Home and garden
- B2B: medical technology, software, energy, car service
Companies
Ferrero, Reckitt Benckiser, Scotts Celaflor, Guhl Ikebana (Kao Group), Sirona Dental Systems, Mainova, First Stop, Nissin Foods, besetzo
Brands
duplo, Kinder Riegel, Calgon, Woolite, Clearasil, Veet, Substral, Naturen, Miracle-Gro, John Frieda, Cup Noodles, Demae Ramen, Soba
When an interim marketing manager makes sense
An interim assignment almost always starts with a gap. These are the four most common cases.
-
2.1
Vacancy
A position in your marketing team is open and no successor has been found yet. Campaigns, budgets and agencies keep running and need someone to make decisions.
-
2.2
Cover
Parental leave, illness or a sabbatical. You need someone who takes over the role and hands it back in good order at the end.
-
2.3
Launch or relaunch
A new product or new packaging is going to market. Your team lacks someone who has done this many times before.
-
2.4
Reorganisation
Your marketing is to be restructured: new structures, new agencies, new channels. That takes someone from outside who brings a network and carries the change through.
Interim management in marketing
As an interim manager I take on a defined role in your marketing team, with the responsibility that comes with it. Depending on the assignment, these are the tasks.
-
3.1
Leading team and agencies
I lead your marketing team and your agencies, manage the budget and keep the link to sales, production and group headquarters.
-
3.2
Managing brands
Positioning, marketing mix and 360-degree communication, from TV and print to online and social media.
-
3.3
Launching products
Writing concepts, developing new products, briefing packaging design and taking it all through to market launch.
-
3.4
Running campaigns
Briefing, agency selection, execution, measuring KPIs and adjusting when the numbers call for it.
-
3.5
Using market research
Commissioning qualitative and quantitative studies, analysing them and presenting the results internally so that they lead to decisions.
-
3.6
Improving structures
Reviewing and simplifying processes. If needed, I support HR in recruiting new staff, including the permanent head of marketing.
More than twenty years of marketing experience
At Reckitt Benckiser, Scotts Celaflor and Nissin Foods I managed brands with full budget and P&L responsibility. Since 2012 I have taken on interim assignments from product management to head of marketing, including head of marketing at Nissin Foods for all European brands, with my own team.
Tab. 4.1 Career, most recent first
-
- Period
- Next
- Company and role
- Your companyInterim assignment in marketing
- Brands and sector
- Your brands
- Tasks and results
- Request an assignment
-
- Period
- 2026 to date
- Company and role
- besetzoConsultant for all marketingConsulting, possible alongside an interim assignment
- Brands and sector
- Software for shift and workforce planning, B2B
- Tasks and results
- Building an AI-supported working environment for marketing.
-
- Period
- 2021–2022
- Company and role
- Nissin FoodsHead of Marketing1 assignment
- Brands and sector
- Cup Noodles, Demae Ramen, Soba
- Tasks and results
- Budget and P&L responsibility. 360-degree communication for all European brands, new product development, agency recommendations. Led four employees and two working students.
-
- Period
- 2018–2019
- Company and role
- First Stop Reifen Auto Service, FriedbergHead of Marketing1 assignment
- Brands and sector
- Tyres and car service
- Tasks and results
- Point of contact for 47 branches and more than 160 partner companies, website relaunch, member of the management team.
-
- Period
- 2017–2018
- Company and role
- Mainova, FrankfurtTeam Coach, Marketing CommunicationsCoaching, 1 assignment
- Brands and sector
- Energy
- Tasks and results
- Coaching four employees in marketing communications and event management. Developed a new vision and mission and the brand positioning together with a brand agency.
-
- Period
- 2014–2016
- Company and role
- Guhl Ikebana, Kao GroupExport Product Manager and Innovation Product Manager4 assignments
- Brands and sector
- John Frieda in Europe, the Middle East and Africa
- Tasks and results
- Introduced a new social media strategy, first in three countries, then rolled out to all 16 export countries. Several launches and relaunches. Market launch of a new product category.
-
- Period
- 2012–2016
- Company and role
- Sirona Dental Systems, SalzburgCommunication Manager in Corporate Brand Marketing3 assignments
- Brands and sector
- Medical technology: imaging systems, treatment centres, and instruments and hygiene systems
- Tasks and results
- Relaunch of all brochures, development of advertisements and trade fair films, budget responsibility.
-
- Period
- 2012
- Company and role
- lemon5 fresh consultingStrategy ConsultingFreelance
- Brands and sector
- B2C and B2B
- Tasks and results
- Social media strategies for B2C and B2B companies.
-
- Period
- 2008–2011
- Company and role
- Scotts CelaflorInternational Category Manager Plantfood Europe, previously Senior Product Manager Central EuropePermanent position
- Brands and sector
- Miracle-Gro, Fertiligène, KB, Substral, Naturen
- Tasks and results
- Substral and Naturen with full P&L responsibility. Relaunch of the European slow-release fertilisers for Miracle-Gro, Fertiligène, KB and Substral.
-
- Period
- 2008
- Company and role
- Unikatwertvoll, OffenbachConsulting for an advertising agencyFreelance
- Brands and sector
- Agency brand
- Tasks and results
- New positioning of the agency brand and concepts for winning new clients.
-
- Period
- 2006–2007
- Company and role
- Reckitt Benckiser, MannheimBrand ManagerPermanent position
- Brands and sector
- Clearasil, Veet, Calgon, Woolite
- Tasks and results
- Full budget and P&L responsibility. Clearasil: sales up by more than 10 %, 2nd place for new product launches in the trade journal Lebensmittel Praxis with Clearasil Ultra. Calgon: gained market share against private labels. First cross-brand couponing campaign, covered in the trade press.
-
- Period
- 2001–2006
- Company and role
- Ferrero, FrankfurtProduct Manager, Junior Product Manager, TraineePermanent position
- Brands and sector
- Kinder Riegel, duplo
- Tasks and results
- Brand management across the full marketing mix including TV and print. Developed and introduced an international packaging design.
Strategic marketing consulting
Alongside interim assignments, I have advised companies on their marketing and brand strategy since 2012. I analyse where the potential lies, sharpen the positioning and develop a strategy from it. If you wish, I also support the implementation. My clients include a creative agency, an IT provider, a financial advisory firm and a personal coach.
I have worked with social media and search engines since 2012 and trained as a social media manager and as a search engine manager. I am currently training in AI and agentic marketing.
- 5.1
Potential analysis and marketing strategy
- 5.2
Brand positioning and repositioning
- 5.3
Strategy for social media and search engines
- 5.4
Website strategy and copy
About Edda Schwarz
“Strong leadership and cooperative team building, experience combined with a spirit of innovation, consistent focus on goals in both analytical and creative work.”
I hold a German degree in business administration (Diplom-Kauffrau) with a major in marketing from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and completed a banking apprenticeship. I started in 2001 as a trainee at Ferrero. After that I managed brands at Reckitt Benckiser and Scotts Celaflor, including international ones. Since October 2012 I have been self-employed as an interim manager and consultant.
I work from Mainz, remotely or on site. I take on assignments in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and further afield on request.
- Degree
- Diplom-Kauffrau, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
- Self-employed since
- October 2012
- Area
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and further afield on request
- Languages
- German and English, fluent in speech and writing
How an assignment begins
- 1
You describe your situation in the form or by email.
- 2
We talk in person or by video about the task, timeframe and goals.
- 3
You then receive a proposal.
- 4
I get up to speed, take over the role and hand it back in good order at the end.
Frequently asked questions
8.1When should you bring in an interim manager?
When a position needs to be filled quickly and a permanent appointment would take too long or is not needed. In marketing, this is usually a vacancy, cover, a product launch or a reorganisation of the department.
8.2What is an interim manager?
A specialist or executive for a fixed period. An interim manager takes over a position with full responsibility for an agreed period and then hands it back. Interim managers are self-employed, not permanent staff.
8.3How is an interim manager paid?
Usually by hourly rate; a daily rate is also possible. The rate depends on the task, scope and length of the assignment. You receive a proposal once we have talked about your situation.
8.4How soon can you start?
I am available immediately.
8.5Do you work on site or remotely?
Both. I take on assignments in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and further afield on request. The location is reflected in the hourly or daily rate or in expenses.
8.6Do you work internationally?
Yes. At Scotts Celaflor I managed brands for Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, Scandinavia, France and the UK, at Guhl Ikebana the export countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and at Nissin Foods all European brands. I work fluently in English.
8.7Do you have B2B experience?
Yes. I worked in Corporate Brand Marketing at Sirona Dental Systems, coached the marketing team at Mainova and led marketing at First Stop Reifen Auto Service. I currently advise besetzo, a provider of software for shift and workforce planning.
Request an assignment
Briefly describe your situation. The more precisely you describe the task, timeframe and team, the better I can judge how I can help.
Prefer direct contact? Send me an email, call me or message me on LinkedIn.
- Phone
- +49 172 1009830
- Edda Schwarz