The Hidden Cost of an Empty Technology Leader Seat

Every day without a CIO, CISO, or CTO costs you more than a technology leadership salary

 

"The average cost of a CIO vacancy? $1.2M in delayed revenue, missed deadlines, and crisis management." - Gartner 2024

 

Tech Leadership Gaps
Strategic Paralysis
  • Projects stall.
  • Roadmaps drift.
  • Boards lose confidence.
AI & Emerging Tech Leadership
Security Exposure 
  • Compliance gaps widen.
  • Incidents go unaddressed.
  • Audits loom.
Product Development & Engineering Excellence
Resource Drain
  • Team burns out without leadership.
  • Top talent exits.
  • Costs spike.

understand
Technology Gap
  • Technologies are not aligned with business goals
  • Roadmaps are reactive, not proactive
  • Lack of Innovation

Leadership Without the Search - Get the CIO, CISO, or CTO you need in 3 simple steps - without recruiters, without risk, without delays

  • 1 Step 1: Define (Day 1)
  • 2 Step 2: Match (Day 2)
  • 3 Step 3: Launch (Day 3+)

1 Step 1: Define (Day 1)

Group

15-minute discovery call. We clarify your gaps:

  • Role scope (PT/FT/Interim)
  • Technical domain needs
  • Cultural requirements
  • Timeline expectations

2 Step 2: Match (Day 2)

g1203

We introduce 2 - 3 curated partners. Every partner is:

  • A former CIO/CTO/CISO
  • Pre-vetted for your industry
  • Available within 48 hours
  • Backed by our performance guarantee

3 Step 3: Launch (Day 3+)

g268 (1)

Your leader starts immediately

  • They integrate with your team, assess priorities, and deliver results from week one.
  • Scale up or down as needs evolve - no long-term contract required. 

Fortium Roles

Fortium webpage images (1)

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Senior technology leader responsible for technology investment and strategy, reporting to the CEO or similar; usually in a non-technology organization.

Michelle Russell Headshot-web

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Senior technology leader responsible for commercial software product development, reporting to the CEO or similar; usually in a technology organization

5f8dec5dda213d29f9574490_Dave_Bergh_Headshot_-1-removebg-preview

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Senior technology leader responsible for the overall security and compliance posture of an organization, generally, though not always, reporting to the CIO/CTO with CEO and Board autonomy, for technology and non-technology organizations.

Fortium webpage images (3)

Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (vCAIO)

Senior technology leader responsible for delivering instant, executive-level AI leadership to align advanced AI solutions with your business goals. This role accelerates innovation and integration without the costs or delays of hiring a full-time executive.

Why Companies Choose Fortium Over Recruiters, Consultants, and Interim Firms

Fortium Partners (2)

Trusted by Companies Who Can't Afford Ineffective/ Inefficient Leaders

"How a Mid-Market Healthcare Company Filled a CIO Gap in 4 Days and Avoided a $3M EHR Delay"

Our Fortium CISO identified three critical compliance gaps in her first week - issues our internal team had been missing for six months. That alone justified the engagement."

Portrait Sarah Mitchell Regional Financial Services Firm CEO
600
+

CXO Placements

72

Average Hours to Start 

94
%

Client Retention

2
M

Avg. First-Year Value ($)

Your Leadership Comes From Leaders Who've Been There

Every Fortium Partner is a former CIO, CTO, or CISO with 15-30 years of enterprise experience. No junior staff. No learning curves. Just proven leadership.

Fortium webpage images

Kathy Natriello

Former SVP, Bristol Myers-Squibb 30 Years pharma/biotech IT
Fortium webpage images (3)

James Simmons

Former CIO, Fortune 500 Retail 25 years retail/e-commerce
Ebook images for HubDB (6)

The CEO's Guide to

Hiring a Technology Leader

The CEO’s Guide to Hiring a Technology Leader is a practical, no-jargon playbook for CEOs who need the right CIO, CTO, or CISO but can’t afford a mis-hire.

Questions We Hear From Every First Conversation

 

How quickly can someone really start? What about onboarding?

Our partners are independent operators who've led teams of hundreds. They don't need HR onboarding or system training—they assess, prioritize, and execute from day one.

What if the fit isn't right?
Can they integrate with our existing team?
What if we need them longer than expected?
How does pricing compare to a full-time hire?
Do they just do interim, or can they help us hire?

Intro to Fortium Partners

See how Fortium Partners’ on-demand technology leaders deliver rapid impact during technology transitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions? We're here to help

What exactly does Fortium Partners do and how is it different from a recruiter or consultant?

Fortium Partners provides Technology Leadership-as-a-Service (TLaaS) — placing world-class, senior CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs with 15 - 30+ years of executive experience directly into your organization on an interim, fractional, or virtual basis. Unlike recruiters, we don’t just find candidates - we provide leaders who start delivering results immediately. There are no junior staff, no learning curve, and no long search cycles. 

How quickly can a Fortium leader begin making an impact?

As few as 48 hours. Most engagements begin within days, not months - with leaders typically able to start assessing priorities, stabilizing technology operations, and setting strategic direction within the first week.

Why should I consider fractional or interim leadership instead of hiring a full-time executive?

Fractional or interim leadership gives you executive-level expertise without the cost, commitment, and risk of a full-time hire. You get strategic guidance, operational execution, and accountability while preserving budget flexibility - especially valuable during transitions, growth phases, or M&A activity.

How does Fortium ensure the technology leader will fit our business and culture?

Every Fortium Partner is matched based on industry experience, leadership style, technology domain expertise, and your specific business needs. Because partners have deep operating backgrounds, they integrate seamlessly with your team and begin contributing immediately.

What types of engagements can Fortium support (part-time, full-time, project)?

We offer a spectrum of engagement models:

  • Virtual/Advisory (1 to 4 hrs/week) - strategic counsel
  • Fractional (part-time) - ongoing leadership without full-time cost
  • Interim (full-time) - temporary executive coverage
  • Longer-term or transition to full hire - including pathways to permanent placement if needed.
What’s the difference between a CIO, CTO, and CISO - and how do I know which I need?

Each role has a distinct business impact:

  • CIO: focuses on technology strategy, operations, and alignment with business priorities.
  • CTO: drives product engineering, technology innovation, and delivery excellence.
  • CISO: leads security strategy, risk mitigation, and compliance.

Fortium can help you assess your current state and recommend the right leadership based on your strategic priorities.

What outcomes can we expect in the first 90 days?

Typical early outcomes include:

  • Rapid stabilization of leadership gaps
  • Clarity in technology strategy and roadmap alignment with business goals
  • Identification and remediation of key risks
  • Improved governance, performance, and cross-functional collaboration

These early wins set the stage for measurable business results.

How does pricing compare to hiring a full-time executive or working with a traditional consulting firm?

Fortium’s model is cost-effective because you only pay for the leadership you need, when you need it. There’s no long-term salary, benefits, or search fees upfront. You get executive experience at a fraction of the full-time cost - and with measurable ROI tied to outcomes, not just advice. 

What if the engagement doesn’t go as expected?

Fortium’s placement and engagement process focuses on rapid matching and alignment up front. We ensure expectations are clear, measurable goals are set, and success metrics are agreed upon so your investment drives tangible business value. 

Can Fortium help us transition to a permanent executive hire later?

Yes -  while not a traditional search firm, Fortium offers pathways to transition a fractional or interim leader into a full-time executive with flexible models that spread out risk and cost over time.