The Organisation
A banking and financial services company that had operated without a dedicated CTO. The incoming technology leader inherited no documentation, no asset register, and no baseline understanding of the current technology landscape.
The Challenge
Starting from a blank slate is one of the hardest positions for a new CTO. Without a clear picture of existing systems, technical debt, and organisational maturity, every early decision carries risk.
The new CTO needed to build credibility with the board quickly while also identifying the most urgent risks and opportunities - all within the first 90 days.
The Approach
StackUp's assessment was completed within the first two weeks. It provided a comprehensive, scored baseline across architecture, security, data, operations, and team capability.
The CTO used the findings to build a prioritised 90-day plan, grounded in evidence rather than anecdote. The board-ready report became the centrepiece of their first strategic presentation.
"Without StackUp, it would have taken me three months just to understand what we had. Instead, I spent that time fixing it."
The Outcome
The CTO identified six material risks in the first fortnight - three of which were previously unknown to the organisation. A remediation plan was in place before the end of the first quarter.
The board gained immediate confidence in the new leader's approach. The assessment created a shared reference point that aligned technical priorities with business strategy from day one.