Fractional CIO & Technology Operating Partner
Stop Making Technology Decisions
Without a CIO in the Room.
Technology due diligence, post-close IT leadership, and fractional CIO retainers for private equity sponsors and mid-market operators who need executive-level guidance without a full-time hire.
We work directly with private equity firms, CEOs, and leadership teams to align technology strategy with business growth, security, and long-term operational success.
Who We Work With
- Private equity firms seeking technology due diligence
- PE portfolio companies with infrastructure or IT leadership gaps
- Mid-market companies ($40M–$400M) scaling through technology
- Companies in financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail
25+ Years of Technology Leadership · Global Enterprise to Mid-Market · Financial Services, Healthcare & Manufacturing
When Sponsors and Management Teams Bring Us In
Private equity sponsors and management teams engage Vertex CIO Advisory when:
- A private equity firm has an acquisition target moving to LOI and needs technology due diligence priced into the deal model
- A portfolio company needs post-close technology leadership — a 100-day plan, integration playbook, or a fractional CIO on retainer
- A platform is preparing for exit and needs a defensible technology story for the CIM and data room
- Leadership needs independent guidance on IT strategy, cybersecurity, or major vendor decisions
- A mid-market company has outgrown its IT manager but is not ready for a full-time CIO
- Existing IT vendors or an MSP are not delivering the strategic value expected
What We Do
Services
From pre-acquisition diligence to post-close execution — we provide technology leadership across the full investment and business lifecycle.
Technology Due Diligence
A structured assessment of infrastructure, cybersecurity posture, vendor contracts, and IT risk — designed for private equity firms evaluating acquisition targets or managing portfolio company technology.
Learn More →Post-Acquisition IT Integration
Hands-on technology leadership in the critical 90 days after a deal closes. We assess what was inherited, identify immediate risks, stabilize operations, and build the technology roadmap that sets the portfolio company up for growth.
Learn More →Portfolio Technology Assessment
A rapid evaluation of a portfolio company’s current technology environment — covering infrastructure health, cybersecurity posture, vendor performance, and IT team capabilities. Delivered as an executive-level report with a prioritized risk register and 90-day action plan.
Learn More →Fractional CIO
Executive technology leadership on retainer for private equity portfolio companies and mid-market firms — helping leadership scale, reduce risk, and make smarter technology investments without a full-time hire.
Learn More →Cybersecurity Oversight
Executive-level oversight to reduce cyber risk across a platform, portfolio company, or mid-market operator — controls, incident readiness, and compliance posture that hold up under sponsor and buyer scrutiny.
Learn More →MSP Oversight
Independent oversight of MSPs at portfolio companies and mid-market firms — holding providers accountable to SLAs, security posture, and the strategic value promised at signing.
Learn More →Technology Roadmap
A 3–5 year technology plan for portfolio companies and mid-market operators — infrastructure, cloud, security, and systems that scale with the growth thesis.
Learn More →IT Budget Planning
Technology budgets and capex/opex forecasts for portfolio companies and mid-market operators — aligned to the growth thesis, with no surprise post-close spend.
Learn More →Vendor Selection
Independent guidance for sponsors and management teams choosing MSPs, security vendors, and platform tools — avoiding tool sprawl and vendors that don’t hold up post-close.
Learn More →How We Work
Our Engagement Model
A structured engagement model that gives sponsors, boards, and management teams clarity on technology decisions — and ensures IT supports the growth thesis.
Evaluate
We assess your current technology environment, cybersecurity posture, vendor relationships, and IT capabilities — producing a risk register and executive-level findings that leadership, boards, and investment committees can act on.
Define Strategy
Working with leadership, we develop a practical technology roadmap with a prioritized 100-day action plan. This includes infrastructure planning, cybersecurity priorities, vendor rationalization, cost optimization targets, and a clear path to integration readiness.
Lead Execution
As your fractional CIO, we drive execution — not just strategy. We own vendor oversight, budget accountability, security remediation, and board-ready reporting to ensure initiatives deliver measurable EBITDA impact.
Continuous Guidance
Technology strategy evolves as the business grows. We remain embedded with leadership — providing portfolio-level visibility, recurring technology health checks, and the operating discipline that supports long-term value creation.
Typical Engagement
What a Fractional CIO Engagement Looks Like
A retainer engagement designed to give sponsors, boards, and management teams ongoing technology guidance — while ensuring key initiatives move forward.
Sponsor & Board Reporting
Clear reporting to sponsors, investment committees, and boards on technology priorities, risks, and progress against the roadmap.
Executive Strategy Meetings
Regular working sessions with sponsors and management to review technology priorities, major initiatives, and upcoming decisions that impact the business.
Technology Roadmap Oversight
Ongoing guidance to keep technology initiatives aligned with the growth thesis, budget, and operational priorities.
Major Technology Decisions
Independent guidance on infrastructure upgrades, cloud initiatives, software platforms, vendor selection, and other strategic investments.
Cybersecurity & Risk Leadership
Continuous evaluation of security posture, emerging risks, and controls that hold up under sponsor and buyer scrutiny.
Vendor & MSP Oversight
Evaluation and management of technology vendors, MSPs, and service providers — holding them accountable to SLAs, security, and the value promised at signing.
How We Engage
Service Packages Built Around the Deal Lifecycle
We structure engagements around how investors and operators actually buy — starting with clarity, then moving to execution.
Pre-Close
Technology Diligence Sprint
2–4 week review of infrastructure, security, vendors, delivery risk, and likely post-close priorities.
Fixed project fee
Post-Close
100-Day Stabilization Plan
Initial roadmap, risk remediation, reporting cadence, vendor rationalization, and governance setup.
Fixed fee + optional retainer
Hold Period
Fractional CIO Retainer
1–2 days per week of embedded technology leadership for a specific portfolio company.
Monthly retainer
Portfolio-Level
Portfolio Health Check Program
Semiannual reviews across multiple portfolio companies with standardized scorecards and intervention priorities.
Portfolio retainer
Let’s Talk About Your Technology.
Whether you need technology due diligence, infrastructure risk assessment, or fractional CIO leadership — the first conversation is always free.
Two ways to start.
Both reach Vertex directly. The first conversation is always free.
Typical response within 24 hours.