Chief Technology Officer – Carve Out (Private Equity Backed)

Client: Large‑Cap Private Equity Fund
Structure: £2000 - £2500 per day - Interim - 6 months

Overview

A large‑cap Private Equity fund is carving out a high‑growth Technology platform from its parent organisation and seeking a strategic and execution‑focused CTO to lead all technology elements of the separation and stand‑up. This individual will be accountable for the target‑state technology architecture, carve‑out TSA exit, and the scaling and hardening of the technology capability as the business transitions into a standalone, PE‑backed organisation.

The ideal candidate will be an ex‑MBB technology or digital transformation leader with deep experience in complex carve‑outs, Tech/Financial Services, and scaling product‑centric engineering organisations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead Technology Strategy & Target Architecture

• Define and deliver the technology strategy, operating model, and target‑state architecture for the standalone FinTech.
• Translate investment thesis and value‑creation levers into actionable technical plans and a clear multi‑year roadmap.
• Ensure technology choices support scalability, resilience, security, regulatory compliance, and speed to market.

2. Carve‑Out Leadership & TSA Exit

• Own and manage all technology workstreams related to the carve‑out, including:
  • Infrastructure separation
  • Data migration and cleansing
  • Application disentanglement/refactoring
  • Stand‑up of all core platforms and tools
  • Vendor renegotiation and onboarding
• Drive the organisation to TSA exit within agreed timelines, proactively managing risks, critical paths and interdependencies.

3. Build & Scale Engineering, Product & Technology Teams

• Design and implement the post‑carve‑out technology organisation, including product, engineering, security, architecture, and IT operations.
• Recruit and develop high‑performing technical leaders and teams.
• Instil engineering excellence, DevSecOps best practice, and modern delivery disciplines.

4. Cybersecurity, Risk & Regulatory Oversight

• Implement a robust security framework aligned with regulatory demands for financial services.
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards (e.g., ISO27001, PCI‑DSS, SOC2, FCA/SEC requirements).
• Establish risk management, business continuity, and disaster recovery capabilities.

5. Product & Platform Innovation

• Drive innovation across core product lines, customer experience, and digital capabilities to support growth.
• Partner with commercial and product heads to accelerate delivery of new features, platforms, and data‑driven services.
• Embed experimentation, rapid iteration, and continuous improvement culture.

6. PE Stakeholder Management & Value Creation

• Act as the key technology interface with the Private Equity fund.
• Provide transparency on progress, risks, and opportunities through disciplined reporting and KPIs.
• Identify and deliver value‑creation levers across automation, cloud modernisation, vendor optimisation, and engineering productivity.

Candidate Profile

Essential Experience

• Ex‑MBB (McKinsey, Bain, BCG) or Tier‑1 digital/technology strategy consulting background.
• Led technology transformations within Private Equity, preferably including carve‑outs, M&A integrations, or complex technology separation programmes.
• CTO, VP Engineering, or Technology Director experience within FinTech, payments, financial services, or a regulated digital business.
• Proven track record building and scaling engineering/product organisations of 100+ people.
• Strong background in cloud‑native architectures (AWS/Azure/GCP), microservices, API‑driven platforms, and modern DevOps practices.
• Experience navigating rapid growth, change, and ambiguity in fast‑paced environments.