Role Overview for Chief Technology Officer with a PE-backed Industrial Group – Cleveland, OH
JRG Partners has been exclusively retained to lead the search for a visionary and results-driven Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for a high-growth, private equity-backed industrial manufacturing and distribution group headquartered in Cleveland, OH. This is a pivotal executive leadership position for a technology leader who thrives in a fast-paced, transformative environment and possesses a unique blend of strategic acumen, technical depth, and business-focused execution.
As a key member of the executive leadership team, you will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and work in close partnership with the private equity sponsors. Your mission will be to architect and execute a comprehensive technology and digital strategy that aligns with the company’s aggressive growth objectives and the PE firm’s value creation plan. This is not a maintenance role; it is a career-defining opportunity to drive significant change, modernize a complex technology landscape, and create substantial enterprise value leading to a successful exit event. You will be the central figure in leveraging technology as a competitive differentiator, enhancing operational efficiency, securing the enterprise, and enabling future mergers and acquisitions.
The ideal candidate is a battle-tested leader with prior experience in a PE-backed portfolio company, preferably within the industrial, manufacturing, or distribution sectors. You understand the urgency, financial discipline, and metrics-driven culture inherent in such environments. You will be responsible for the entire technology organization, encompassing infrastructure, cybersecurity, business applications (including ERP), data analytics, and the critical integration of Information Technology (IT) with Operational Technology (OT) on the plant floor. This role requires a leader who can build bridges between departments, articulate a clear vision, and inspire a team to achieve extraordinary results.
Key Responsibilities of Chief Technology Officer with a PE-backed Industrial Group – Cleveland, OH
Strategic Technology Leadership & Vision
Develop, articulate, and execute a forward-looking technology roadmap that directly supports the business strategy and the PE sponsor’s investment thesis. Serve as the primary technology advisor to the CEO, board of directors, and executive team, translating complex technical concepts into business implications and strategic opportunities.
Digital & Business Transformation
Champion and lead enterprise-wide digital transformation initiatives. Drive the modernization of legacy systems, including the optimization or potential replacement of the core ERP platform, to create a scalable, agile, and integrated application ecosystem.
IT & OT Convergence
Strategically oversee both IT and OT environments. Develop a cohesive strategy to integrate plant-floor systems (SCADA, MES) with enterprise systems, leveraging IoT and data analytics to drive significant improvements in manufacturing efficiency, quality control, and predictive maintenance.
Cybersecurity, Risk, and Compliance
Architect and maintain a robust, proactive cybersecurity program to protect the company’s intellectual property, customer data, and critical infrastructure. Ensure the security of both corporate IT systems and industrial control systems. Establish governance frameworks and ensure compliance with all relevant industry and data privacy regulations.
Data Strategy & Analytics
Institute a sophisticated data governance and analytics strategy. Build a ‘single source of truth’ for key business metrics and empower the organization with actionable insights through business intelligence (BI) tools and advanced analytics, driving data-driven decision-making across all functions.
M&A Technology Integration
Play a leading role in the technology track for all M&A activities. Conduct thorough pre-acquisition due diligence and develop and execute seamless post-merger integration playbooks to rapidly consolidate systems, processes, and teams to realize synergies.
Infrastructure & Operations Excellence
Ensure the company’s technology infrastructure is secure, scalable, and highly available to support 24/7 manufacturing operations. Lead the strategy for cloud migration and manage a hybrid environment to optimize cost, performance, and reliability.
Team Leadership & Organizational Development
Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing, business-oriented technology team. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, continuous improvement, and exceptional customer service to internal stakeholders. Structure the organization and talent to effectively meet the evolving needs of the business.
Financial & Vendor Management
Develop and manage the annual technology operating and capital budgets, ensuring investments are aligned with strategic priorities and deliver maximum ROI. Lead negotiations and manage relationships with key technology vendors, partners, and service providers.
Requirements for the Chief Technology Officer with a PE-backed Industrial Group – Cleveland, OH
Executive Experience
A minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in technology, with at least 5-7 years in a senior leadership capacity (e.g., CTO, CIO, VP of IT) responsible for enterprise-wide technology strategy and execution.
Private Equity Environment
Demonstrable and successful experience working within a private equity-backed portfolio company is strongly preferred. Must understand the pace, financial rigor, and value-creation focus of a PE environment.
Industry Background
Significant experience in the industrial manufacturing, distribution, or a related sector is required. Familiarity with the challenges and opportunities of integrating IT with OT is a critical asset.
Technical Expertise
Broad and deep technical knowledge across infrastructure (on-premise, cloud/Azure/AWS), enterprise applications (especially modern ERP systems like SAP, Oracle, or Infor), data architecture, and business intelligence.
Cybersecurity Acumen
Proven experience developing and implementing comprehensive cybersecurity strategies. Specific experience with cybersecurity for industrial control systems (ICS) is highly advantageous.
M&A Proficiency
Hands-on experience leading technology due diligence and post-merger integration projects is essential.
Business Acumen
Strong financial literacy and the ability to build compelling business cases for technology investments. Must be a strategic business partner first and a technologist second.
Leadership & Communication
Exceptional leadership skills with a proven ability to build, inspire, and motivate teams. Must possess executive presence and be an outstanding communicator, capable of effectively engaging with private equity sponsors, board members, executive peers, and employees at all levels.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field is required. An MBA or other advanced degree is highly desirable.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client offers a highly competitive and compelling compensation package designed to attract and retain a top-tier executive. This includes:
- A competitive executive base salary.
- A significant annual performance-based bonus tied to individual and company performance.
- A substantial equity stake in the company through a Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), providing the opportunity for a significant financial outcome upon a successful exit.
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
- 401(k) retirement plan with a generous company match.
- Generous paid time off (PTO) and company holidays.
- Budget for executive coaching and professional development opportunities.
- Relocation assistance to the Cleveland, OH area for the ideal candidate.
How to Apply
This is a confidential search being conducted exclusively by JRG Partners. If you are a transformative technology executive with the requisite experience and a passion for driving value in a dynamic, PE-backed industrial environment, we encourage you to apply.
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their resume for confidential consideration. To learn more about our expertise in placing senior technology executives, please visit JRG Partners’ Private Equity Technology Leadership practice page.
Our client is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
