Interim CIO
Interim CIO for mid-sized companies.
The head of IT has left or the ERP project is due. Steffen Herr takes overall responsibility for IT for a fixed term, sorts out strategy and day-to-day operations, and hands over an IT function the company can run on its own.
When an interim CIO makes sense
IT leadership is vacant
The previous head of IT has gone and the successor is months away. Operations, vendors and running projects need an accountable person now.
An ERP change is due
The old system no longer carries the business. Selection, migration and integration need someone who brings departments, partners and management together.
IT has grown and got expensive
Many single solutions, unclear ownership, rising costs. Nobody has a clear view of what IT costs, what it delivers and where it should go.
Digitalisation without a roadmap
There are ideas and single projects but no order. AI and automation are meant to come without putting operations at risk.
How a CIO mandate runs
- 01 · Weeks 1–4
Understand the situation
Map systems, contracts, costs and risks. Talk to departments and vendors. Act immediately where operations are at risk.
- 02 · Months 2–3
Set the direction
IT strategy and governance with clear roles (RACI), service levels and recovery targets. A decision paper for management or the advisory board.
- 03 · From month 3
Deliver and hand over
Lead projects such as the ERP rollout, digitalise processes, build up the internal team. The handover to the permanent hire is part of the plan from day one.
Case study
Moving a mid-sized manufacturer to Microsoft Dynamics 365
A mid-sized intralogistics manufacturer with more than 200 employees faced an ERP change. IT had grown over the years, was fragmented and had no head.
- Took overall responsibility for IT for a fixed term
- Set IT strategy, governance and recovery targets
- Rolled out Dynamics 365, migrated and integrated existing systems
- Guided employees through the change and digitalised core processes
The company works on one shared ERP, IT has clear ownership and a roadmap to 2028 that the in-house team carries forward.
What this is based on
- Interim CIO and business transformation consultant at Telelift GmbH, an intralogistics manufacturer with more than 200 employees
- Led the rollout of Microsoft Dynamics 365, including migration, integration of existing systems and change management
- Built IT strategy and IT governance (SLA, RPO/RTO, RACI) and a digitalisation roadmap to 2028
- 13 years as board member and managing director of a consultancy for mid-sized companies with more than 150 SME projects
- Consultant listed with BAFA, the German federal office that funds SME consulting (ID 193982)
Frequently asked questions
How fast can an interim CIO start?
Mandate requests get a reply within 24 hours. The start date depends on the current mandate and is agreed in the first call.
How many days a week is an interim CIO on site?
Interim mandates usually run three to five days a week. CIO mandates mostly need two to three days on site, the rest can be remote.
How is an interim CIO different from an IT consultant?
An interim CIO carries line responsibility: budget, vendors, team and decisions. A consultant recommends and the company then delivers.
Does the interim CIO also support the ERP selection?
Yes. Selection, tender, client-side project lead and steering the implementation partner are part of it, as are migration and change management.
A mandate to fill? An answer within 24 hours.
Availability, terms and fit settled up front. Directly, without detours.
Last updated: 02/10/2026