In times of crisis, companies need leaders who can make swift, well-founded decisions under extreme pressure. Yet the market suffers from a shortage of experienced Chief Restructuring Officers (CROs), and there is no standardized profile or training for this vital role. The CRO Academy, an exclusive program from Haselhorst Associates, fills this gap by preparing senior executives for urgent restructuring situations. It offers participants intensive, hands-on training designed to build the strategic, financial and operational skills needed for successful turnarounds.
Increasing economic volatility, geopolitical risks, and industry disruption are driving a growing need for corporate restructuring.
In these situations, a CRO plays a pivotal role. The sooner an organization enlists external CRO expertise, the greater its scope for an effective turnaround.
The CRO Academy targets not only consultants but also decision-makers facing transformation challenges.
It equips them with the critical tools to master crises—either by stepping into the CRO role themselves or by working closely with a CRO.
A CRO must turn crisis insights into a strategically sound, yet operationally feasible plan. It is not enough to perform analyses; the resulting measures must be realistic, effective and coordinated. This requires operational leadership experience. CROs take ownership of implementation, actively guide teams through tough phases, and focus on crafting and executing robust, hands-on restructuring plans.
Initiatives succeed only if their impact can be tracked. A CRO must work with business metrics, spot deviations early and adjust course as needed. Steering projects through plan-vs.-actual comparisons and defined KPIs is essential. The academy teaches proven methods of analysis, control and communication — critical for building stakeholder trust and making well-informed decisions.
Restructuring projects are complex and time-sensitive. A professionally run project management office (PMO) provides clarity, structure and traceability. A CRO must be able to establish such a PMO, implement core control mechanisms and coordinate teams effectively. The CRO Academy trains participants in established project management tools and methods, enabling future CROs to maintain oversight and lead decisively even in turbulent situations.
Restructuring involves many stakeholders — employees, executives, shareholders, banks and investors. The CRO acts as mediator, facilitator and decision-maker. Without a high level of trust, deep change is nearly impossible. Hence, strong communication, integrity, assertiveness and empathy are just as central to CRO training as technical skills. The CRO Academy specifically develops these soft skills, as they are essential for forging resilient relationships and guiding people through change.
The earlier leadership recognizes an emerging crisis, the more options there are to respond. An experienced CRO is the best reinforcement in this fight: they bring together strategic thinking, operational capability and leadership competence. A CRO knows the negotiation dynamics with banks, understands how to embed changes in the company, and if necessary even assumes hands-on responsibility. Through systematic, practice-oriented training, the CRO Academy ensures that organizations gain access to truly qualified crisis managers.
