Malikshaw Interim and Executive is pleased to announce its appointment as an approved supplier to Cirrus Purchasing, further strengthening our presence in the public procurement and strategic resourcing space.

This partnership reflects Malikshaw’s proven track record in delivering high-calibre interim and executive talent to organisations across the public and regulated sectors. As a trusted supplier to Cirrus Purchasing, Malikshaw will support their work with public sector clients by providing leadership and expertise that drive effective procurement and operational outcomes.

“Being appointed as a supplier to Cirrus Purchasing is a proud moment for us,” said Rob Shaw, CEO of Malikshaw Interim and Executive. “We look forward to working closely with Cirrus and their partners to deliver exceptional talent solutions that make a measurable impact.”

 Legacy systems rarely feature in project headlines, but anyone who’s led a transformation will know their impact is real — and far-reaching.

They sit quietly in the background, rarely discussed in early planning meetings, but slowly shaping what is and isn’t possible. They increase delivery risk, add costs that weren’t budgeted, and often leave teams trying to build modern services on unstable ground.

If you’re a hiring manager, transformation lead, or programme sponsor, this probably isn’t news. You’ve likely seen the signs before. Projects running slower than expected. More stakeholder meetings to explain technical blockers. Highly skilled teams spending more time working around old systems than delivering innovation.

These systems are often seen as too costly to replace, too embedded to disrupt, and too risky to touch without a major business case. So they remain, year after year, draining resources and patience.

But the real issue isn’t just technical. It’s human.

The presence of legacy systems changes the kind of people you need to deliver successfully. It’s no longer enough to find someone who’s great at solution design or agile delivery. You need people who understand the constraints, who know how to make progress in less-than-ideal conditions, and who can bring calm, clarity and direction when the systems don’t cooperate.

That’s not always an easy brief to write — let alone fill.

Some organisations try to tackle this by doubling down on specialist technical hires, but skills alone don’t solve the problem. What’s needed is a more nuanced approach to recruitment. One that considers not just what someone knows, but how they think and how they operate under pressure.

The most effective programmes we’ve seen take a strategic approach to hiring, especially around legacy. That means:

• Blending legacy expertise with forward-looking transformation talent
• Bringing in analysts and architects who can act as translators between old and new
• Hiring delivery leads who know how to plan realistically and manage stakeholder expectations
• Finding candidates with both technical credibility and interpersonal skills
• Building resilience into teams by thinking ahead about succession and support

This is where a good recruitment partner earns their place. Not just by filling gaps quickly, but by helping you shape the roles in the first place. By understanding the challenges behind the job title and offering practical, experience-based advice on how to attract the right people.

At Malikshaw, we’ve worked with public sector teams across local government, health, housing and education. We’ve seen how legacy systems frustrate even the most well-resourced programmes — and how the right interim or project hire can help unblock progress.

We don’t claim to have all the answers. But we do understand the real-world pressures hiring managers are under. And we know how to find people who thrive in that space.

So if you’re facing a digital delivery challenge and legacy systems are part of the equation, let’s talk. Whether you need an interim to steady the ship or a team to deliver real change, we’ll help you find the right people to keep things moving.

Talk to Malikshaw. Let’s see how we can help.