CTO / CISO Services Case Study

California Payments Co. Needed Interim CTO

California Payments Co. Needed Interim CTO

A California-based payments company has been at the forefront of Accounts Receivable (AR) automation and digitalization over the past 20 years. When their CTO was departing at a critical time, TechCXO stepped in the breach.

“I appreciate the work you did. Can’t imagine this will be the last time we need an Interim CTO, so will be in touch as the need emerges.”

Overview

The payments company is PE-backed and in close partnership with some of the most complex organizations in the world. The company delivers flexible SaaS solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing technologies and processes to intelligently automate and create for customers a single view of global cash across the business.

Challenges

  • CTO exited within 2 weeks
  • The software team as configured lacked cloud migration experience
  • Critical PCI Audit at risk of non-compliance finding
  • Major client deliverables were pending

Goals

The company needed to transition leadership due to an exiting CTO who was departing within a tight, two-week notice period. The company was in the midst of a complex cloud transition and was facing a critical PCI Audi. TechCXO had to step in quickly to deliver on a multitude of fronts. including executive technology leadership capabilties.

Solutions

Complex legacy software transitioning to the cloud required a team approach to replace the exiting CTO. TechCXO achieved the following:

  • Transitioned leadership from departing CTO in 1 week via Zoom
  • Attended the initial Board Meeting in Los Angeles
  • Stabilized the Software Team, including hiring new talent
  • Augmented AWS Cloud Architecture capability with TechCXO Principal Architect to support Tier-1 Telecom client rollout
  • Performed Cloud Spend Cost-Reduction
  • Deployed TechCXO Principal to secure IT and Network administration to backfill retired Security Engineer
  • Implemented IT Helpdesk vendor
  • Rescued floundering PCI Audit at risk of non-compliance finding
  • Hired permanent CTO within 3 months with a smooth transition

Todd Merrill served as this PE-backed company’s fractional CTO.

Todd Merrill

Fractional CTO, CISO

Outcome

  • Successfully hired a new full-time CTO
  • Augmented Engineering Team
  • Secured PCI audit
  • Performed Cloud spend cost reduction through the evolution of complex database architecture

Hired new CTO

TechCXO stabilized operations so the firm could conduct its search.

Secured PCI audit

TechCXO ensured the team secured its critical audit.

“Our outgoing CTO resigned at a critical time, and we appreciate how quickly TechCXO engaged with us to maintain our momentum while we searched for our long-term CTO.”

- Payments Company CEO