Fractional CIO Services
Strategic IT Leadership for Manufacturing Companies
Your Competitive Advantage, Not Your Cost Center
Your manufacturing company faces technology decisions every year that can accelerate your growth or set you back. ERP upgrades. Cybersecurity threats. Digital transformation. Vendor negotiations. Each one requires someone who has been through it before — and who has a stake in getting it right.
I’m Sanu Chacko, founder of Levaris. I’ve led 8 ERP implementations as the accountable executive, spent nearly a decade building ERP software at Epicor, and served 9 years as CIO of a multinational manufacturing conglomerate. Now I bring that experience to $20–200M manufacturers who need strategic IT leadership without the full-time cost.
The Problem
The IT Leadership Gap in Manufacturing
Most $20–200M manufacturers face a common dilemma. Technology decisions are becoming more complex and consequential — but hiring a full-time CIO at $250,000+ a year doesn’t match the reality of how much strategic oversight you actually need.
The result: critical decisions get made by people who don’t have the experience to make them well. ERP vendors oversell. Cybersecurity gets deferred. IT staff lack strategic direction. And the CEO treats technology as a cost to be minimized rather than an advantage to be built.
Levaris exists to close that gap.
Ideal Clients
Who I Work With
- $20M–$200M manufacturers who need C-level IT strategy but not a full-time CIO on payroll
- PE-backed manufacturers navigating growth, acquisitions, or operational transformation
- Companies facing critical ERP decisions — whether selecting a new platform, upgrading, or recovering from a failed implementation
- Organizations with capable IT staff who lack strategic direction and executive oversight
I serve clients primarily in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, and Northeast, and travel to your facility regularly.
Industries
Heavy industrial manufacturing, marine fabrication, industrial equipment, metal fabrication and machining, food and beverage manufacturing, consumer goods, and third-party administration.
ERP Platforms
Epicor (including Kinetic), NetSuite, and Infor SyteLine. I also evaluate SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle, and others for vendor selection engagements.
Service Tiers
How Fractional CIO Services Work
I work as your actual Chief Information Officer — not a consultant who parachutes in with a report and leaves. I attend your leadership meetings. I present to your board. I manage your vendors. I develop your team. I own outcomes, on a part-time schedule.
Advisory
Two days per month of strategic IT leadership. Planning, vendor evaluation, executive briefings, cybersecurity guidance, and on-call support between visits.
Embedded
Three days per month with everything in Advisory, plus active project oversight, board presentation support, team mentoring, and quarterly assessments.
Transformation
Four to five days per month for major initiatives. Hands-on ERP implementation leadership, M&A technology integration, and interim full-time availability during critical phases like go-live. Typically 6–12 month engagements.
Track Record
8 ERP Implementations. One Accountable Executive.
Every ERP implementation I’ve led was as the CIO or VP of IT who owned the budget, the vendor relationship, the timeline, and the outcome. Before I ever implemented an ERP, I spent nearly a decade building ERP software as Director of Development at Epicor. I understand these systems at the code level — which means I spot problems before they get expensive and evaluate vendor claims with a depth most consultants can’t match.
end-to-end
implementation experience
CIO client relationship
revenue ceiling
Selected Engagements
- ERP Upgrade LeadershipLed a full Epicor Kinetic upgrade for a heavy industrial manufacturer. Managed the lifecycle from vendor negotiation through go-live, delivered on time and on budget.
- M&A Technology IntegrationImplemented Infor SyteLine during a private equity acquisition of a marine enclosures manufacturer. Integrated disparate systems and established standardized operations.
- International OperationsBuilt technology operations and a cross-functional team in Spain for UK and EU expansion. Full P&L accountability for all non-US operations.
- Ongoing Fractional CIO7+ year engagement overseeing IT strategy, ERP management, cybersecurity, and team development for a manufacturing holding company.
The Case for Fractional
Why a Fractional CIO Makes Sense
A full-time CIO costs $200,000+ annually in salary, benefits, and overhead. They’re often consumed by operational firefighting. And it takes 3–6 months to find the right person — with significant risk if the fit is wrong.
A fractional CIO delivers strategic leadership 2–5 days per month, focused on the decisions that actually move the business forward. You get immediate start, proven expertise, and the flexibility to scale involvement up or down as your needs change.
The reality for most $20–200M manufacturers: you don’t need someone in the office every day. You need someone who develops your 3-year IT roadmap, evaluates vendors so you don’t overpay, provides oversight during critical projects, ensures cybersecurity protects the business, mentors your IT team, and presents strategy to your board. That’s what I deliver — and you pay for results, not seat time.
Client Voices
What Clients Say
“Even as a Fractional IT Director, Sanu has been available virtually 24/7 to help with our IT challenges.”— CFO, Group Holding Company
“Senior level presence that integrates well with the entire organization. Very pragmatic in terms of taking into account the realities of the business.”— President, Multinational Manufacturing Company
“Sanu helps meld the technology side of the business with the business strategy in a complementary way.”— CEO, Group Holding Company
Why Levaris
Built on Experience. Driven by Impact.
At this point in my career, I’m not chasing revenue or building a consulting empire. I’ve done the work — 20+ years of it — and what motivates me now is using everything I’ve learned to help the right companies reach the next level. I’m looking for leaders who know technology should be a competitive advantage but haven’t had the right partner to make it one.