Richard Keenlyside is a seasoned Interim and Fractional CIO with a proven track record in strategic IT leadership for Private Equity-backed companies. With more than 34 years of experience, Richard has successfully led complex digital transformations, M&A integrations, and carve-outs for high-growth and turnaround-focused portfolios.
His Private Equity engagements span multiple sectors, including manufacturing, retail, utilities, logistics, technology, and financial services. Richard’s focus is on maximising value creation, aligning IT with business strategy, and preparing businesses for acquisition or exit.
Strategic IT Leadership in Private Equity
CIO Advisory Expertise Across the Investment Lifecycle
Richard brings deep experience in Private Equity IT leadership, having served in strategic advisory, interim CIO, and transformation director roles. At Endava (formerly Intuitus), he worked as an Associate advising top-tier Private Equity firms such as Carlyle, EQT, Inflexion, and BC Partners. His support included:
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IT and digital due diligence
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Post-merger integration and separation planning
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IT operating model design
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Data governance and ERP strategy
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Exit readiness and value enhancement
Richard’s ability to align IT with business goals ensures accelerated growth, operational efficiency, and long-term scalability for PE-backed businesses.
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Carve-Outs, Mergers & Acquisitions: Proven Execution
A standout strength in Richard's portfolio is his work on technology carve-outs and M&A integration. For example:
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At Webasto, he led a carve-out assessment for Transom Capital Group, providing ERP transition options, data strategies, and infrastructure reviews to support the separation of the EV charging unit.
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At Mothercare PLC, Richard architected a full IT carve-out as part of a strategic turnaround, establishing three independent operating entities and enabling acquisition by Boots.
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At Game UK, he oversaw the post-acquisition integration of Gamestation, delivering ERP and warehouse automation solutions to support growth across the UK and Europe.
This hands-on experience supports Private Equity firms in mitigating risks and realising synergies during complex transactions.
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Delivering Strategic Technology Transformation
Richard delivers digital strategy and transformation leadership to PE-funded organisations looking to scale. Examples include:
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Leading a two-year IT transformation strategy across 13 global business units. This included cloud migration, cybersecurity, governance, and consolidation under Epicor Kinetic.
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At food manufacture, he delivered AI-driven process improvements that cut operational costs by 40%, introduced a central data lake, and migrated finance systems to Oracle SaaS, significantly improving business intelligence and operational efficiency.
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At a UK fashion high-street retailer, he delivered a £14M global ERP transformation to NetSuite and launched a single PLM system across manufacturing, retail, and finance.
These initiatives consistently lead to cost reduction, increased agility, and improved scalability.
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Interim & Fractional CIO for Private Equity
Private Equity demands speed, precision, and deep industry insight. Richard meets these needs through fractional CIO and interim leadership roles, where he:
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Builds IT strategies aligned with investment theses
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Implements technology platforms to drive scale
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Manages vendor negotiations and cost optimisation
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Introduces governance, data, and cybersecurity frameworks
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Supports investor relations with detailed reporting and roadmaps
He has led teams of 600+ staff and managed budgets exceeding £120 million, demonstrating leadership across every layer of enterprise IT.
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Trusted by PE Firms and Portfolio CEOs
Richard’s Private Equity clients value his ability to quickly diagnose challenges and deliver measurable impact. As a board-level advisor at companies like Quollify and M.I. Dickson, he has guided strategic investments, helped secure seed funding, and delivered technology roadmaps that unlock future growth.
His dual focus on business and IT transformation ensures cohesive execution from planning to delivery. He is also a published author and frequent speaker on AI, cybersecurity, and digital transformation, helping shape best practices across the industry.
