About
About Sanu Chacko
The CIO Who Built ERPs Before He Implemented Them
The Story
I’m Sanu Chacko, and Levaris is how I make 20+ years of IT executive leadership available to manufacturing companies that need it.
My path is different from most consultants. I spent nearly a decade at Epicor as Director of Development, where I didn’t just implement ERP systems — I built them. I owned product development strategy for enterprise application suites, which means I understand ERP at the code level, not just the screens your team sees every day.
From there, I served 9 years as Chief Information Officer at Northern Industrial, a multinational manufacturing conglomerate. I set IT strategy, led multiple ERP implementations, managed budgets from $500K to $5M+, built teams, and reported to the board. That’s where I did the hard work of turning IT from a cost center into a strategic asset.
Most recently, I served as General Manager and VP of Technology at Taphandles, where I held full P&L accountability for international operations. I built a team in Barcelona and managed operations across the UK and EU. That experience proved something important: I’m not just a technology leader. I understand business operations at a fundamental level.
Now, through Levaris, I bring all of this to manufacturers who need strategic IT leadership without the full-time cost. My longest client relationship is 7+ years and counting — proof that the model works when you have the right person in the role.
Purpose
Why I Do This
I’m at a point in my career where I don’t have to do this work. I choose to.
After 20+ years of building teams, leading transformations, and solving hard problems across three continents, what drives me now isn’t the paycheck. It’s the impact. I’ve accumulated a depth of knowledge and operational experience that can genuinely change the trajectory of a business — and I want to put that to use where it matters most.
I’ve watched too many mid-sized manufacturers struggle with technology decisions that hold them back — not because the problems are unsolvable, but because they didn’t have the right person in the room when the decisions were made. An ERP implementation that goes sideways. A cybersecurity gap that nobody flagged. A growth opportunity that stayed on the whiteboard because nobody had the bandwidth to figure out the technology side.
That’s where I come in. I’m looking for leaders and organizations where my experience can create real, measurable impact. Where I can help someone take their business into territory they’ve been wanting to explore but haven’t had the expertise to navigate. Where technology becomes the thing that unlocks growth, not the thing that slows it down.
This isn’t about building a consulting empire. It’s about doing meaningful work with a small number of companies where I can make a genuine difference. If that resonates with you, we should talk.
Credentials
Experience That Matters
CIO & VP of IT
CIO and VP IT roles at manufacturing and retail companies ranging from $20M to $200M+. Full IT P&L management, ERP strategy and implementation, cybersecurity, team building, vendor management, M&A integration, and board reporting. This is operating experience, not consulting experience.
8 ERP Implementations
Led as the responsible executive who owned budget, vendor relationship, timeline, and change management. Platforms: Epicor (including Kinetic), NetSuite, and Infor SyteLine. Scope: single-site and multi-site, net-new and upgrades, post-M&A consolidations, and cloud migrations.
Global Leadership
Built and managed IT and operations teams internationally, including establishing manufacturing operations in Spain with UK and EU scope. Cross-border technology projects and multi-country compliance.
Fractional CIO Since 2017
Working with 3–4 clients at a time, providing strategic leadership on a monthly retainer. Quality over quantity. The goal is deep partnership, not a client roster.
Working Style
How I Work
- Business First, Technology SecondI start by understanding your business goals, competitive pressures, and growth plans. Technology decisions follow from business strategy, not the other way around.
- Strategic, Not TransactionalMonthly retainer, not hourly billing. Strategy happens in the conversations between meetings, not just during scheduled visits.
- Hands-On When It MattersDuring critical phases — ERP go-live, M&A integration, security incidents — I increase my involvement to match the moment.
- Transparent and DirectI tell you what I think, even when it’s not what you want to hear. If your ERP vendor is overselling, I’ll say so. If your timeline is unrealistic, you’ll hear it from me first.
- Develop Your Team, Not Replace ThemIf you have an IT manager or team, I’m not there to replace them. I’m there to make them better — mentoring, coaching, and building the organizational capability you need.
Results
Case Studies
Names withheld per confidentiality agreements.
Real Estate Investment Company
Designed and implemented an all-cloud IT environment, eliminating on-premise infrastructure costs and enabling remote-first operations.
Confectionery Manufacturer
Mentored a newly appointed Director of IT to confidently managing vendor relationships, leading projects, and presenting IT strategy to the leadership team.
Multinational Manufacturer
Developed a Disaster Recovery plan that was tested and validated to restore full operations within 4 hours of a critical failure — down from an estimated 3+ days.
Health Insurance Administrator
Stabilized IT operations and established a Project Management Office that brought discipline and visibility to 12+ concurrent initiatives.
My home base is in Seattle, WA, in the Pacific Northwest. When I’m not working with clients, I enjoy spending time with my family and staying active.