Industrial CIO for Transition Management.
A transition industrial CIO takes over IT wherever it touches production: ERP, MES, QMS/DMS, infrastructure and servers, OT cybersecurity. A role in its own right at MT-Transition — because plant-floor IT cannot be run like a corporate back-office IT department.
Callback within 2 business hours · 3 targeted profiles within 72 hours · 100% industrial
The role of a transition CIO
They cover the full IT/OT spectrum: ERP and MES turnaround or rollout, quality systems (QMS/DMS), infrastructure and servers, shop-floor networks, business continuity, and OT cybersecurity — industrial network segmentation, response plans, NIS2 compliance. They align IT with production priorities, not the other way around.
In what situations do companies call on a transition industrial CIO?
The call for a transition industrial CIO answers situations where IT directly touches production. An ERP or MES project going off track — overrun deadlines, exploded budget, resistance from shop-floor teams — puts production continuity at risk and calls for a transition CIO experienced in this kind of project turnaround, rather than an additional project manager. A cyberattack or security incident affecting industrial systems (OT), with a risk of production stoppage, demands specific industrial cybersecurity expertise that few corporate CIOs truly master. NIS2 compliance, which imposes new security obligations on industrial operators, is pushing many SMIs to bring in a transition industrial CIO to quickly structure their compliance plan. Finally, the sudden departure of the CIO in an organization where IT/OT infrastructure is documented only in the heads of a few key people leaves a major operational risk the company cannot ignore.
Typical profile: who makes a good transition industrial CIO?
Le transition industrial CIO typically combines 15 to 20 years of experience in industrial information systems, with a rare dual skill set: mastery of classic IT systems (ERP, infrastructure, networks) alongside a solid understanding of the OT environments (PLCs, SCADA, MES) specific to the plant floor. An engineering background in computer science or automation, backed by hands-on experience deploying or turning around ERP/MES projects in an industrial setting. Their strength is understanding that plant-floor IT cannot be run like a corporate IT department: a network outage on the shop floor can halt a production line, which radically changes priorities and maintenance windows. On the behavioral side, they combine cybersecurity rigor — segmentation of industrial networks, incident response plans — with the ability to bring along production teams who are often wary of system changes. Many have already managed an ERP/MES project turnaround in an industrial setting, giving them a fast read on the warning signs typical of this kind of project.
What a CEO should expect from a transition industrial CIO
A CEO bringing in a transition industrial CIO should expect a precise technical diagnosis of the real state of IT/OT systems — often more fragile or less well documented than the current organization wanted to admit. They must give full access to the infrastructure and ongoing projects, including the grey areas where IT and OT overlap without clear governance. In return, the CEO gets an action plan prioritized by operational criticality — whatever directly threatens production comes before comfort projects — with milestones tracked regularly. The transition industrial CIO has to work with production teams that are sometimes reluctant to change systems; a CEO must accept that change management is an integral part of the assignment, not just the technical rollout. The assignment ends with stabilized systems, a documented industrial cybersecurity roadmap, and an IT/OT team trained to ensure continuity after they leave.
Example of a typical transition information systems management assignment
The context: a multi-site industrial group launched an ERP rollout eighteen months ago, now more than a year behind the original schedule, with growing resistance from production teams working around the new system. The stakes: secure the rollout before the budget overrun becomes critical, restore shop-floor teams' trust in the project, and avoid running a dual system (old and new) that undermines the reliability of production data. The assignment: a transition industrial CIO is brought in to take over the ERP program and secure its rollout across the remaining sites. How it unfolds: the first few weeks are spent auditing the project — causes of the delay, quality of the migrated data, actual buy-in from shop-floor teams. The following months structure a recovery plan prioritized site by site, with reinforced change management on the ground. The assignment typically lasts 6 to 10 months, the time needed to stabilize the rollout across the full scope. The expected outcome: an ERP deployed and adopted across all sites, clarified IT/OT governance, and an internal team trained to maintain and evolve the system.
When to bring in a transition CIO
An ERP/MES project drifting off track or a cutover to secure, a cyber incident or identified OT exposure, critical obsolescence (servers, shop-floor systems), a vacant CIO position, customer or insurer requirements around cybersecurity.
In every case, the mechanics are the same: an expert calls you back within 2 business hours, you receive 3 targeted profiles within 72 hours, and the manager starts with a priced assignment letter, followed by the firm's founder through to handover.
Sectors Served
Working in a validated pharma or healthcare environment? A dedicated sector-specific version exists.
See Pharma & Healthcare CIO →Related Roles
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does OT cybersecurity cover?
Protecting industrial systems: IT/OT segmentation, hardening of shop-floor equipment, detection, response and recovery plans, NIS2 compliance — all without ever stopping production.
Can they take over an ERP project that's drifting off track?
Yes: rescoping, data reliability fixes, a realistic cutover plan, vendor/integrator governance — with production teams in the loop.
How quickly can a transition CIO start?
A callback within 2 business hours, 3 targeted profiles within 72 hours, and a start generally within one to two weeks — sometimes less in crisis management situations.
How much does the assignment cost?
The cost is defined by the assignment — criticality, duration, scope — and is scoped from the very first conversation, with no surprises. It compares favorably to the cost of a prolonged vacancy or ongoing underperformance.
How is this different from hiring permanently?
A permanent hire takes 4 to 6 months and is a long-term commitment. A transition assignment brings in an over-qualified executive within days, for a defined period, with a measurable objective.
Industrial CIO position vacant or overwhelmed? Let's talk today.
Callback within 2 business hours · 3 targeted profiles within 72 hours · 100% industrial
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