Faq

Stead Consulting is a strategic and operational consulting firm founded by top managers with decades of hands-on experience in senior leadership roles. Our difference is substantial: we don’t just offer analysis and recommendations — we concretely support companies in execution, bringing the know-how of professionals who have already managed similar situations firsthand. We’re not consultants observing from the outside: we are managers who work alongside your team.

Our team has direct experience across a wide range of sectors: Manufacturing, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Consumer Electronics, Fashion & Luxury, Business Services, and Utilities. This cross-sector expertise allows us to bring best practices from different industries, often generating added value precisely through perspectives that are unconventional for the client.

We primarily work with structured SMEs, mid-sized companies, and large enterprises going through phases of growth, transformation, or difficulty. There is no fixed minimum size: what matters is the complexity of the challenge and the management’s willingness to work collaboratively. We work with family-owned businesses as well as companies backed by private equity funds.

The process begins with a free listening session to understand the situation, challenges, and objectives. This is followed by an analysis and diagnosis phase, the definition of a shared action plan with measurable KPIs, and finally operational execution alongside your team. Duration ranges from short-term interventions of a few weeks to structured programs of 12–24 months.

Fractional Management involves providing a part-time top manager — typically a CEO, CFO, CIO, CMO, or COO — who operates within your organization with full operational responsibility, but at a fraction of the cost of a full-time resource. It is the ideal solution when you need executive-level skills to lead a transformation or fill a temporary gap, without bearing the cost of a full-time senior figure.

We adapt the pricing model to the nature of the project. We work with project-based fees for engagements with a defined scope, monthly retainers for ongoing commitments (such as fractional management or advisory board participation), and, in selected cases, with variable components tied to the achievement of objectives. The fee structure is clearly defined before any engagement begins.

This is one of our unique strengths: the two divisions work in an integrated manner, not in separate silos. In many projects, the technology lever enables business objectives, and vice versa. Massimo Marabese (Tech division) and Antonio Albano (Business division) collaborate directly on projects that require both strategic vision and digital transformation.

Yes. Our Cybersecurity and Business Protection service is aimed at companies that want to assess and strengthen their cybersecurity posture, comply with current regulations (NIS2, GDPR), or manage high-risk situations. We are not a technology solutions provider: we offer a strategic vision and security governance.

We adapt the pricing model to the nature of the project. We work with project-based fees for engagements with a defined scope, monthly retainers for ongoing commitments (such as fractional management or advisory board participation), and, in selected cases, with variable components tied to the achievement of objectives. The fee structure is clearly defined before any engagement begins.

We adapt the pricing model to the nature of the project. We work with project-based fees for engagements with a defined scope, monthly retainers for ongoing commitments (such as fractional management or advisory board participation), and, in selected cases, with variable components tied to the achievement of objectives. The fee structure is clearly defined before any engagement begins.

Absolutely. Although our headquarters are in Milan (Piazzale Cadorna 9), we work with companies across the entire national territory and in international contexts. Many of our managers have extensive experience in cross-border projects, and we support Italian companies in their international expansion as well as foreign companies entering the Italian market.

The simplest way is to talk to us. We offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation during which we listen to your situation, share an initial point of view, and jointly assess whether there is a genuine fit between your needs and our expertise. If we’re not the right partner, we’ll tell you clearly.