Why Richard Keenlyside is the North East’s Go-To CIO, IT & Programme Director

Richard Keenlyside
19 minutes ago
4 min read

TL;DR:

Richard Keenlyside is the North East’s foremost CIO and IT Programme Director, offering over three decades of expertise in digital transformation, cybersecurity, M&A, and IT strategy. Operating from North Yorkshire, he provides fractional and interim CIO services that deliver measurable business value. Trusted by leading industries, private equity firms and scale-ups alike, he’s the executive you call when your IT and business transformation must succeed.

Introduction: The Strategic IT Leader Driving North East Innovation

With over 34 years of experience and a track record that includes £2M+ in cost reductions, 40% productivity gains, and industry-defining transformation programmes, Richard Keenlyside has become synonymous with strategic IT leadership in the North East. Based in North Yorkshire, Richard serves the UK and global markets as a Fractional CIO, Interim CIO, and Programme Director. His work spans sectors including manufacturing, financial services, retail, and utilities — and he’s particularly sought-after for digital transformation, cyber security, M&A due diligence, and project recovery.

A Proven CIO Across Sectors That Matter

Richard’s multi-industry expertise includes:

Manufacturing & Industrial: Global CIO for PE-backed manufacturers, such as LoneStar Group.
Retail & eCommerce: Led ERP transformations at FitFlop, Game UK, and Sainsbury’s PLC.
Utilities: Delivered AI and RPA programmes at Northumbrian Water Group, saving 75,000+ hours annually.
Private Equity & M&A: Trusted advisor at Endava, having supported 15+ mergers and acquisitions.
Food & Beverage: Non-executive and advisory roles at M.I. Dickson, delivering rapid ROI tech initiatives.
Technology Start-ups: Strategic advisor to Quollify, helping raise seed investment and drive MVP evolution.

Visit my case study and experience pages to see detailed breakdowns by sector.

Fractional CIO Services in the North East

Richard offers flexible Fractional CIO services that provide part-time executive leadership without the overhead of a full-time CIO. These engagements are ideal for:

Mid-sized companies scaling quickly
Businesses preparing for M&A or investment
Organisations lacking strategic IT leadership
Startups needing structure for digital products

Immediate IT Leadership: Interim CIO for Critical Projects

With a 48-hour deployment capability, Richard’s Interim CIO services deliver:

Emergency IT leadership
Cyber incident recovery
ERP implementation oversight
Transition management between permanent CIO hires

These services are often leveraged in high-stakes scenarios where transformation must be delivered fast and flawlessly.

🔗 Learn more about Interim CIO Services

Digital Transformation Expertise for Business Impact

Whether leading the global roll-out of Epicor Kinetics at LoneStar or digitising HR and finance with AI chatbots at M.I. Dickson, Richard specialises in:

Cloud migrations (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud)
ERP transformations (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Infor)
RPA and AI automation
Cybersecurity frameworks
Data governance and analytics

His transformations consistently yield 18-month ROI timelines, with cost savings over £2M and 40% operational efficiency gains.

🔎 See how you can calculate your ROI with a personalised projection.

Programme Recovery and Strategic Assurance

If your IT programme is failing, Richard is the professional you call. At Mothercare, he restructured the organisation into three viable entities for acquisition. At Co-Operative Food, he led a £151M SAP business case with £141M in identified benefits.

His Programme Recovery Services include:

Health checks and assurance
Governance frameworks
Risk management
Vendor contract renegotiation
End-to-end stakeholder alignment

💡 Learn more about programme and project recovery

Why North East Businesses Choose Richard Keenlyside

30+ years of leadership across industries
PE & VC due diligence specialist
ERP, cybersecurity and data strategy SME
Global experience, locally based in the North East
Certified in TOGAF, Six Sigma, Prince2, Agile, ITIL, and more
Real outcomes: measurable ROI, risk reduction, and value creation

His ability to bridge business goals with technical delivery makes him a trusted partner to both C-suite executives and investors alike.

FAQs

What’s the difference between a Fractional and an Interim CIO? A Fractional CIO provides part-time strategic leadership, while an Interim CIO offers full-time, often urgent, leadership for a fixed period. Richard provides both.

Is Richard available for engagements outside the North East? Yes, Richard works with clients across the UK and internationally through secure digital platforms.

Can Richard assist with private equity acquisitions? Absolutely. He has supported 15+ mergers, offering due diligence, integration planning, and value creation strategy.

Does he only work with large enterprises? No. Richard supports SMEs, scale-ups, PE-backed firms, and enterprise clients alike — tailoring services to each business's needs.

How quickly can Richard start? Richard is available for immediate deployment within 48 hours for critical needs.

Closing: Book Your Strategic IT Consultation Today

If your organisation is facing a digital challenge, navigating a merger, or needs immediate executive leadership, Richard Keenlyside delivers results. Whether you are based in Newcastle, Teesside, Durham, or North Yorkshire, his Fractional and Interim CIO services are trusted by industries worldwide.

👉 Contact Richard today for a free 30-minute consultation.

Further useful internal links:

Richard Keenlyside is a Global CIO, PE&MA Advisor, Endava TAC and a former IT Director for J Sainsbury’s PLC. Call me on +44(0) 1642 040 268 / +44(0)7917 097 058 or email richard@rjk.info. With over 1000+ subscribers, join my newsletter today: https://www.rjk.info/. Follow me on X https://x.com/cioinpractice & LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardkeenlyside/. Also, visit my other CIO website https://richardkeenlysidecio.com/.