Strategic IT leadership without the full-time cost.
Is your $20–200M manufacturing company facing an ERP decision, cybersecurity concerns, or digital transformation—but you don't need (or can't afford) a $200,000+ full-time Chief Information Officer?
I provide fractional CIO services to manufacturing companies primarily in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and Northeast. You get experienced strategic IT leadership 2–3 days per month for a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive.
With 8 ERP implementations under my belt as Chief Information Officer / Vice President of IT—across heavy industrial manufacturing, marine manufacturing, industrial equipment, and retail sectors—I bring real-world experience, not just consulting theory. My current fractional CIO client has trusted me for more than 8 years.
I am Sanu Chacko, working as a self-employed independent contractor. When you engage me, you engage me personally—there is no bench, no junior team, and no account manager between us.
Unlike traditional consultants who parachute in with generic advice, I work as your actual Chief Information Officer—just on a part-time basis. I attend your leadership meetings, participate in strategic planning, manage vendor relationships, and own your IT roadmap. The only difference? You get me 2–4 days per month instead of full-time.
2 days / month
Best forCompanies with stable IT operations who need strategic oversight and planning support.
3 days / month
Best forCompanies with active IT initiatives who need hands-on strategic leadership and project oversight.
4–5 days / month
Best forCompanies undertaking major ERP implementations, acquisitions, or significant IT transformations.
I don't just advise on ERP implementations—I've led them as the accountable executive. As CIO or VP of IT at multiple manufacturing companies, I've been responsible for the full lifecycle: vendor selection, budget management, implementation leadership, team coordination, and go-live success.
Led an Epicor Kinetic upgrade for a heavy industrial manufacturer in the wood products industry (150 employees). Managed a $2M+ project from planning through go-live, delivered on time and on budget within a 9-month timeline.
Implemented Infor SyteLine ERP for a marine enclosures manufacturer during a private equity acquisition. Coordinated technology due diligence, system selection, and post-acquisition integration.
Managed an ERP consolidation project for an industrial manufacturer with multiple production facilities. Standardized processes across locations and improved inventory visibility.
Established operations and built a team in Spain (with responsibility for the UK and EU) to support international expansion for a marketing consumables company in the beverage industry. Managed remote team coordination and cross-border technology initiatives, including worldwide sales, project management, manufacturing and IT teams.
Eight-year-plus ongoing engagement as fractional CIO for a manufacturing company. Oversee IT strategy, ERP management, cybersecurity program, vendor relationships, and digital transformation initiatives.
You don't need a CIO in the office every day. What you need is someone who:
That's what a fractional CIO delivers—and you pay for results, not just seat time.
While I work with clients nationally, my primary focus is the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and Northeast corridor—the heart of American manufacturing. I travel regularly to client sites for on-site strategy sessions, leadership meetings, project kickoffs and ERP go-lives. Between visits, we stay connected via video, phone and email.
Washington, British Columbia, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah
Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio
Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey
Open to other regions for the right fit. The PNW, Midwest and Northeast are home to thousands of mid-sized manufacturers—companies with $20M–$200M in revenue who are sophisticated enough to need strategic IT leadership but not large enough to justify a full-time CIO.
Even as a Fractional IT Director, Sanu has been available virtually 24/7 to help with our IT challenges. We feel like we are his most important client.”
Senior level presence that integrates well with the entire organization. Very pragmatic in terms of how much technology can be utilized within the business, given the nature and structure of the business – [Sanu gets] that in order to do your job properly, first and foremost, you need to understand both what the business is about and doing.”
[Sanu brings] security. Security in the literal sense of security of our systems and data, but also security in knowing our IT needs are well thought out and consistently managed for continued improvement as IT items change. Sanu is incredibly responsive to a wide variety of requests. [He] brings professionalism and high standards to our IT needs, and gives us confidence that our IT environment is using technologies that are current and most beneficial to our organization.”
[Sanu helps] meld the technology side of the business with the business strategy in a complementary fashion so that senior leadership is not faced with a series of ‘either technology is optimized or business is optimized’ choices. [He brings] a fundamental understanding of business first to problem solving.”
As our Interim Head of IT, Sanu brought a sense of purpose, focus, and urgency to our entire team. He mentored the leaders into taking responsibility for their teams and deliverables while challenging the culture to move with greater clarity and pace.
Sanu proposed and set the foundation for a Project Management Office in our organization. He took a hands-on approach to turning around an extremely troubled enterprise project by working with internal resources and multiple third-party vendors simultaneously.
Sanu is incredibly adept at dealing with all levels of an organization and our entire team felt the effect of the changes he introduced. When you engage with Sanu, you get someone committed to helping you build a high-performing, business-focused technology organization.”
If you're a manufacturing company leader wondering whether fractional CIO services make sense for your situation, let's have a conversation. I offer a free 30-minute consultation—no pressure, no sales pitch.
