IT Carve- Programme Director; M&A Technology

IT Carve‑Out Programme Director (M&A Technology)

Location:

Paris (Hybrid – approximately 8 days onsite per month)

Contract:

Long‑term Freelance Contract

Rate: £1000 – £1200 per day

I'm partnering with a leading financial services organisation on a high‑profile technology transformation programme supporting a major acquisition.

We're looking for an experienced IT Carve‑Out Programme Director to lead the technology workstream during the pre‑closing phase of a large‑scale acquisition and prepare the organisation for a successful post‑closing IT separation.

This is not a traditional Programme Manager role. We're looking for someone who has successfully led enterprise‑scale IT carve‑outs, technology separations, post‑merger integrations or M&A technology programmes within complex, highly regulated environments.

Working closely with executive sponsors, senior technology leaders and a leading external advisory partner, you'll provide leadership, governance and delivery oversight across the technology workstream, ensuring the organisation is fully prepared for Day 1 and the subsequent separation programme.

• Lead the end-to-end IT workstream supporting a major acquisition.
• Establish programme governance, reporting, RAID management and Steering Committees.
• Act as the client‑side lead for the external IT advisory partner, reviewing deliverables and challenging recommendations.
• Coordinate senior stakeholders across Enterprise Architecture, Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Applications, Operations and Vendor Management.
• Oversee development of the Target IT Operating Model, application and infrastructure separation strategy, dependency mapping and Day 1 readiness.
• Lead Transition Service Agreement (TSA) planning, governance and exit strategy.
• Ensure technology risks, operational resilience and regulatory requirements are addressed.
• Prepare the organisation for immediate mobilisation of the post‑closing implementation programme.

• You’ll have proven experience delivering complex technology transformation within an M&A environment and be comfortable operating at Executive Committee level.
• You’ll ideally bring experience in:
  Enterprise IT carve‑outs and technology separations, Post‑merger integration programmes, Transition Service Agreements (TSA), Day 1 readiness planning, Executive governance and Steering Committees, Managing external advisory partners (Big 4 or equivalent), Enterprise Architecture, Infrastructure, Cyber Security and Operating Models, Financial Services or another highly regulated industry.

• Proven client-side leadership of large-scale IT carve‑out or separation programmes.
• Strong executive stakeholder management and governance experience.
• Experience working alongside external consulting or advisory partners.
• Excellent programme leadership, planning and risk management skills.
• Fluent French and English.

• Rates depend on experience and client requirements