The number of new interim management assignments starting fell by 25% on the previous year, according to research from The Interim Management Association’s Annual Ipsos MORI Market Summary for 2010.

The research also reveals while there has been a surge in private sector placements in Q4, the gap between private/public sector demand continued to narrow, with an average annual ratio of 52:48 in 2010. In 2006 private sector demand ratio stood at 70%.

IMA chairman Jason Atkinson says: “2010 has been a difficult year across private and public sectors, with new assignments dipping due to uncertainty over political changes and the resulting budget cuts.  However, while interim appointments were undoubtedly affected over the year the market also proved relatively resilient. “Encouragingly, according to the Ipsos results, particular industries have shown a marked increase in use, namely, manufacturing in the private sector and health in the public sector.”