Why Interim and Fractional CIOs and CTOs Are Essential in this Age of AI Transformation

AI transformation is not just a technology initiative; it is an organizational shift that requires experienced leadership. Interim and fractional CIOs and CTOs bring the expertise needed to help companies align people, processes, and architecture as agentic AI reshapes how work gets done.

Artificial intelligence has moved beyond experimentation. Boards and leadership teams are no longer asking whether to adopt AI, they are asking how quickly they can execute without destabilizing their organization.

What many companies discover is that the biggest obstacle is not technology. It is leadership.

Read More

From SaaS to Agentic BPO: How AI Is Reshaping Business Models

Agentic AI is pushing companies to rethink traditional SaaS economics. As agents begin executing workflows, organizations are exploring outcome-driven models that resemble AI-powered BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) services rather than seat-based software platforms.

For decades, SaaS growth relied on expanding users and licenses. The more seats a company sold, the higher its perceived value.

Agentic AI introduces a different possibility, one where software doesn’t just support work, but performs it.

That shift has led to a “SaaSpocolypse.” Software as a Service companies have shed market value in the face of the rapid emergence of agentic AI. In response, Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block, laid off 40 percent of his workforce and was rewarded with a 24 percent jump in the company’s stock price.

Is that the only way forward? No, says one of our InterimExecs RED Team CIOs.

Read More

The Workforce Crisis Driving AI Adoption (That No One Wants to Admit)

The most successful organizations adopt AI not to replace workers, but to solve talent shortages and scale expertise through AI agents.

AI is often framed as a productivity story. But, according to one of our RED Team Interim CIOs whose expertise involves transforming organizations using AI and technology, the problem is something very different.

“They don’t have the workforce.”

Read More

What Is Agentic AI? An Interim CIO’s Guide to Real Transformation Beyond AI Hype

Agentic AI shifts work from humans navigating software to AI agents executing workflows directly under expert supervision.

“Agentic AI” is one of the hottest terms out there. But what does agentic AI really mean? It’s not chatbots, copilots, or incremental automation. That is so last week in our AI-fueled world.

In our interview with an Interim CIO who has led multiple deployments, the distinction was clear: agentic AI isn’t about assisting users, it’s about artificial intelligence agents actually doing the work.

And it’s big. Really big. In fact, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in his keynote address at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show that enterprise AI agents would create a “multi-trillion-dollar opportunity” for many industries, from medicine to software engineering.

So how do you get a piece of that?

Read More

The Agentic AI Shift: Why SaaS Companies Must Rethink Growth, Valuation, and Leadership

Agentic AI changes how software works by executing workflows instead of supporting users. This shift challenges seat-based SaaS economics and requires experienced executive leadership to guide transformation.

For years, SaaS valuations were built on a familiar model: growth, recurring revenue, and expanding user seats. Companies scaled by adding customers and increasing adoption inside organizations.

No more.

Agentic AI is changing not just how software is built, but how work itself gets done. And for many SaaS companies, especially those in the broad middle of the market, that shift has immediate implications for valuation, growth narratives, exit strategies, and executive leadership needs.

Read More

Using AI Without Exposing Your Crown Jewels: A Practical Guide for C-Suite Leaders

Artificial intelligence has moved from “interesting experiment” to “board-level priority” with remarkable speed. Most CEOs and executive teams now believe AI can materially improve efficiency, decision-making, and growth. At the same time, many share a quieter concern:

How do we use AI safely so we don’t put our most sensitive data, IP, and competitive advantage at risk?

The good news is that companies can unlock real value from AI without putting proprietary information at risk — and they can do so without rushing into a costly, permanent hire before they’re ready.

Here’s how.

Read More

From Full-Time Tech Exec to Interim CIO: 5 Key Steps for Making the Leap

Veteran tech executives are increasingly drawn to the flexibility and fresh challenges of interim and fractional CIO roles. Whether you’re seeking more control over your time, eager to solve complex problems at scale, or simply ready for a new phase in your career, the interim path offers an exciting opportunity to make a high-impact difference across organizations.

But making the leap from a traditional, full-time C-suite role to interim work isn’t as simple as updating your resume. It requires a mindset shift, new strategies, and a clear value proposition. In a panel hosted by Robert Jordan, CEO of InterimExecs, seasoned interim leaders Dominic Luzi, Tom Murray, and John Matthesen shared their hard-won insights on what it takes to succeed as an interim or fractional CIO. Here’s what you need to know.

Read More

Boards Must Lead on Technology Oversight: From Risk to Strategic Growth

In an age of AI disruption, ransomware attacks, and cloud dependency, boards of directors face a new kind of fiduciary responsibility: ensuring that technology risk is understood, governed, and turned into competitive advantage.

Without active board engagement, companies risk falling behind—or worse, facing catastrophic loss. But when boards get technology right, it opens the door to innovation, security, and sustained value creation.

Read More

Transforming Your Business Through Technology: Advice from Interim CIOs

“Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have a faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them.”

— Steve Jobs

Technology is evolving at a breakneck pace, leaving many companies struggling to keep up. When systems are misaligned, talent is underleveraged, and business leaders are frustrated, it’s often a sign that technology is being managed in a silo—or worse, it’s actively hindering growth.

We spoke with two seasoned interim CIOs, David Mitchelhill and Kevin Malover, both members of the InterimExecs RED Team, about how they’ve guided companies through ERP overhauls, tech stack rebuilds, and aligning IT with business goals. Here are the biggest takeaways.

The Ultimate Guide to Hiring an Interim CIO

Technology can make or break your business. Whether you’re navigating a high-stakes digital transformation, cleaning up an IT disaster, or preparing your company for sale, you need smart, decisive leadership. But what happens when your organization can’t wait six months to recruit the perfect permanent CIO?

That’s where an interim CIO comes in.

Unlike a full-time hire, interim CIOs bring speed, clarity, and deep experience — often stepping in after a CIO departs, during a crisis, or ahead of a major initiative.

This guide breaks down what every CEO, board member, or private equity investor should know about hiring an interim CIO—how to recognize when you need one, what they actually do, how they differ from CTOs and fractional executives, and what traits to look for.

Read More