Fractional / Interim CIO: Board-Level IT Leadership Without the Full-Time Cost

Richard Keenlyside
2 days ago
3 min read

Why a Fractional / Interim CIO?

When technology spend is rising and programmes feel stuck, leadership—not more tools—is usually the missing piece. Our Fractional and Interim CIO services deliver senior technology direction at board level without the full-time cost. We bring the playbooks, governance, and vendor management required to convert strategy into measurable outcomes.

Where this model excels:

Rapid growth or private-equity investment
Post-merger integration or carve-outs
ERP change, migration, or “programme at risk”
When an IT Director needs strategic cover and sponsorship

Flowchart on a blue background showing stages: 0-30 Days (team meeting), 31-60 Days (strategy), Benefits tracking (graphs). Text: Intology.

Outcomes We Commit To

We focus on measurable improvements, not just slides:

12–18-month ROI linked to value-creation levers
Cost reduction via application rationalisation and smarter sourcing
Cyber risk reduction with clear executive reporting
ERP and transformation assurance that protects benefits and timelines

What We Actually Do (and Why It Matters)

Technology Strategy & Operating Model. We align technology to the business plan—clarifying target architecture, resource model, and the roadmap that delivers near-term wins without derailing BAU.

Value-Creation Playbook for PE-Backed Firms. From due diligence to the first 100 days, we quantify value drivers (cost, revenue, risk), prioritise initiatives, and set the cadence for transparent benefits tracking.

Cybersecurity Oversight & Risk Governance. We implement board-ready KPIs, define risk appetite, and embed the right controls—so cyber becomes a managed business risk, not an open question.

Vendor Management & SourcingWe reset commercials, simplify supplier sprawl, and ensure contracts support outcomes, not activity.

Data, Analytics & Automation Priorities. We prioritise use cases with a provable ROI—pragmatic analytics and automation that improve decision-making and throughput.

ERP / Line-of-Business Roadmap & Assurance. We de-risk ERP and critical line-of-business change with readiness checks, gating, and independent challenge to keep the critical path intact.

The Engagement Models

Part-Time Retainer (1–4 days/month): Ongoing strategic leadership and governance.
Interim CIO (2–4 days/week): Transitional cover with hands-on delivery steering.
Project-Linked Leadership: ERP migration, M&A integration, or recovery of an at-risk programme.

Transparent pricing with outcome-based milestones. You’ll know what we will deliver, when, and how it will be measured.

What “Good” Looks Like (Signals You’ll See)

£2m+ cost savings identified through simplification and sourcing
40% productivity uplift from rationalised tools and more transparent processes
ERP recovery moving from amber/red to green within 90 days
A board pack that actually drives decisions (not just reports history)

The First 30–60–90 Days: How We Create Momentum

Flowchart with three stages: "Days 0-30: Baseline & Stabilise," "Days 31-60: Re-prioritise & Re-contract," and "Execute & Evidence." Arrows show progressions and tasks like "Operating model review," "Roadmap & critical path," and "Benefits tracking."

0–30 days: Baseline the operating model, risks, spend, and delivery cadence.31–60 days: Re-prioritise the roadmap, reset commercials and KPIs, and confirm the critical path.61–90 days: Execute with weekly evidence—benefits tracking, risk burn-down, and transparent steering.

Fractional CIO vs IT Director: What’s the Difference?

An IT Director focuses on day-to-day operations and delivery. A Fractional/Interim CIO operates at the board level—owning technology strategy, investment cases, and risk governance. Many organisations need both; we often mentor or cover the IT Director while establishing the right approach and cadence.

Common Traps We Help You Avoid

Tool sprawl: Buying more platforms to solve governance problems.
Vendor-led roadmaps: Letting suppliers define scope and success measures.
ERP tunnel vision: Ignoring data, process, and change management.
Reporting without decisions: Packs that present facts but don’t drive actions.

Proof & Case Signals (Anonymised)

Manufacturing SME (PE-backed): Consolidated apps from 87 to 43; £1.1m annualised saving; modern workplace rollout completed in 120 days.
Engineering Group (post-merger): ERP brownfield upgrade with staged consolidation; steering cadence moved programme from red to green in 10 weeks.
Distribution & Field Service: Cyber risk KPIs embedded in board reporting; insurance premium reduction achieved at renewal.

FAQs

How quickly can you start? For urgent interim cover, we can begin within five business days. Typical lead time is 1–2 weeks.

Will you act as SIRO/Cyber sponsor? Yes. We chair governance, define KPIs, and align controls to your risk appetite and compliance frameworks.

Can you work alongside our MSP/ERP partner? Absolutely. We’re vendor-neutral and coordinate delivery while providing independent assurance.

Do you provide board packs and KPI dashboards? Yes. We implement a repeatable executive pack tracking cost, risk, delivery, and benefits realisation.

For further information on how Richard Keenlyside, the founder of Intology, can assist, please visit https://www.rjk.info and https://www.richardkeenlysidecio.com.