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Interim CIO Services

Interim CIO Services: When You Need an Interim CIO

Technology leadership gaps create immediate risk across operations, security, and competitive positioning. CXO Partners interim CIOs step in during your company's most critical moments to provide steady, expert guidance.

For 20+ years, our interim CIOs have successfully guided businesses through critical technology transitions—from cloud migrations to cybersecurity overhauls, system implementations to digital transformations. No learning curve. No long-term commitment. Just immediate, expert technology leadership when your business needs it most.

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When You Need an Interim CIO

Technology leadership gaps create immediate risk across operations, security, and competitive positioning. CXO Partners interim CIOs step in during your company's most critical moments to provide steady, expert guidance.

Our Interim CIO Services Address:

Expand Sudden CIO Departure

Unexpected exits leave your technology organization vulnerable when continuity matters most

Expand Digital Transformation Leadership

Cloud migrations, system modernization, and technology platform changes require specialized leadership

Expand Cybersecurity & Compliance Challenges

Security incidents, regulatory requirements, or audit findings demand immediate, expert response

Expand M&A Technology Integration

Acquisitions, mergers, and divestitures require experienced leadership to integrate systems successfully

Expand IT Turnaround Situations

Technology debt, vendor management issues, or underperforming IT operations need decisive action

Expand Rapid Growth Technology Scaling

Hypergrowth requires infrastructure that scales and technology strategies that support expansion

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Are you experiencing operational, market, strategic or leadership disruptions?

Industries We Serve

CXO Partners interim CIOs bring deep expertise across the industries driving mid-market growth. We understand the unique technology challenges, security requirements, and digital capabilities that matter in your sector, from SaaS platform architecture to healthcare data privacy, manufacturing OT/IT convergence to retail omnichannel systems.

Our executives have served as CIOs in your industry, speak your language, and know what boards, investors, and regulators expect. Whether navigating complex compliance requirements, optimizing industry-specific technology stacks, or preparing for sector-focused M&A activity, our interim CIOs deliver technology leadership grounded in real operational experience within your market.

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Proven Expertise Across Your Industry

When you engage a CXO Partners interim CIO, you're not getting a generalist learning your industry on your dime. You're getting an executive who has already solved the technology challenges you're facing in companies like yours, with boards like yours, and with investors who understand your sector. Whether navigating complex compliance requirements, modernizing legacy systems critical to your operations, preparing technology infrastructure for sector-focused M&A activity, or building digital capabilities that create competitive advantage, our interim CIOs deliver leadership grounded in real operational experience within your market.

Software & Technology

SaaS revenue recognition, subscription metrics (ARR, MRR, CAC, LTV), Rule of 40 optimization, and investor-grade financial reporting for high-growth tech companies.

Healthcare and Life Sciences

Complex reimbursement models, regulatory compliance, clinical trial accounting, revenue cycle management, and value-based care financial frameworks.

Financial Services and FinTech

Banking regulations, lending portfolio management, payment processing economics, capital adequacy, AML compliance, and fintech unit economics.

Manufacturing and Distribution

Cost accounting, inventory management and valuation, supply chain finance, working capital optimization, and capacity planning for operational efficiency.

Consumer and Retail

Omnichannel retail accounting, DTC economics, inventory planning, promotional analysis, and brand portfolio management for profitable growth.

Business Services

Project-based accounting, utilization metrics, pricing optimization, professional services automation, and recurring revenue model development.

Find The Right Interim CIO For Your Organization

A CXO Partner Interim CIO executive can immediately assess what's needed, stabilize a situation, provide steady leadership, and execute a growth plan for your business.

Steady

Our interim CIOs bring calm, experienced leadership during your most turbulent moments. Whether navigating sudden executive departure, cybersecurity incidents, or rapid technology scaling challenges, they quickly diagnose the situation, identify priorities, and establish the technical stability your business needs to move forward with confidence.

Reliable

Count on our interim CIOs to focus relentlessly on your most pressing technology priorities. From securing the infrastructure needed to protect your business, to implementing the systems that scale with your growth, to establishing the governance that protects enterprise value, they deliver the technology leadership and expertise that mid-market companies need to thrive.

Effective

Our interim CIOs don't just maintain operations, they drive transformation. They implement new technology platforms, modernize legacy systems, execute cloud migrations, strengthen cybersecurity posture, and establish the IT capabilities that position your company for sustainable growth and maximum enterprise value.

Why Speed Matters in CIO Transitions

Speed matters when facing a technology leadership gap. CXO Partners deploys interim CIO talent faster than traditional search or consulting firms, without sacrificing quality or experience.

Every day without a CIO creates cascading risks that derail business momentum, expose security vulnerabilities, and cost real opportunities. Critical technology decisions get delayed or made without proper strategic oversight. Board reporting stalls, creating governance concerns. Your IT team loses direction and productivity suffers. Investors, auditors, and customers grow nervous about technology oversight and security posture.

Strategic initiatives, from digital transformation to cloud migration to M&A technology integration, hit pause when there's no technology leader to drive them forward. Meanwhile, a prolonged CIO search can take 4-6 months or longer, during which cybersecurity risks compound, technical debt accumulates, competitive digital capabilities fall behind, and your existing team stretches thin covering responsibilities they weren't hired to handle.

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Results from the clients we’ve served

columbia forest products

CXO Partners provided invaluable support to our organization through their comprehensive assessment and recommendations across our ERP, Enterprise Project Management, and Product Development processes. We deeply value their partnership and the lasting impact of their work. - Jeff Wakefield, VP Ops, Columbia Forest Products

Columbia Forest Products
cloudli

CXO Partners' strategic transformational roadmap drove quick wins and long-term improvements. Their genuine empathy and hands-on approach fostered trust, collaboration, and innovation. - Jamie Minner, CEO, Cloudli

Cloudli
Interim CIO
united community bank

We engaged with CXO Partners to provide interim Chief Audit Executive services and their consultant was a perfect fit for the United Community culture. We truly benefited long term by their wealth of experience and knowledge to develop a higher performing audit function as we searched for a permanent Chief Audit Executive. - Rob Edwards, EVP, Chief Risk Officer, UCBI

United Community Bank
Executive Services
bostwick braun

"CXO Partners' transformation leadership was key to our turnaround at Bostwick Braun. They aligned our IT team, prioritized our technology enablement efforts, drove critical changes, and helped put the company back on a solid growth path. Their impact was immediate and lasting."

- Peter Richichi, CEO, Bostwick Braun

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Let’s Begin

We enable businesses to focus on core competencies by providing flexible, customized professional services supporting our clients’ strategic objectives.

CXO Partners Interim CIOs

Our CIO Partners

alejandro mainetto cxo partners

Alejandro Mainetto

Operating Partner
david gordon

David Gordon

Principal Consultant
alan-eddie

Alan Eddie

Operating Partner
dr yoon lee

Yoon Lee

Operating Partner
Tracy Deuell

Tracy Deuell

Managing Partner, Technology Strategy Services, Industrials Practice Lead
Gabriella Poczo

Gabriella Poczo

Principal Consultant
dennis bianucci

Dennis Bianucci

Principal Consultant

Schedule a 15-minute call with our team.

We’ll listen to your needs and quickly provide options.

Your interim executive is ready to make an impact right away.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Expand How quickly can an interim CIO start?

Most of our interim CIOs can begin within 48-72 hours of engagement. We maintain relationships with seasoned technology executives across industries who are available for immediate deployment. After an initial consultation to understand your specific situation, we match you with the right leader who can step in and make an impact from day one.

Expand What's the typical engagement length for an interim CIO?

Interim CIO engagements typically range from 3-12 months, depending on your specific needs. Some situations, like bridging to a permanent hire, may be shorter (3-6 months), while complex digital transformations or technology turnarounds may extend longer (6-12+ months). We structure engagements with flexibility, allowing you to extend or transition as your business needs evolve.

Expand How do interim CIOs differ from technology consultants?

Interim CIOs are operators, not advisors. They don't write recommendations—they make decisions, execute strategy, and own outcomes. Our interim CIOs sit in the chair, run technology leadership meetings, report to the board, manage IT teams and vendors, oversee security and infrastructure, and drive day-to-day technology operations. They have full accountability and authority, functioning as your actual CIO during the engagement period.

Expand Will an interim CIO fit with our company culture and technology environment?

Our interim CIOs are experienced technology executives who excel at quickly assessing organizational dynamics, technical environments, and adapting their leadership style to fit your culture. They're skilled at building trust with boards, executive teams, IT staff, and vendors while maintaining the objectivity needed to drive necessary changes. We carefully match executives based on industry experience, technical expertise, leadership style, and the specific technology challenges your company faces.

Expand What happens when the interim CIO engagement ends?

We work with you to plan for a smooth transition from the start. Whether we're bridging to a permanent CIO hire, stabilizing technology operations before returning leadership to existing executives, or completing a specific initiative, our interim CIOs document processes, transfer knowledge, and ensure continuity. Many of our interim CIOs also support the onboarding of permanent successors to ensure seamless handoffs.

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