Defined scope. Defined outcome. A clear technical position at the end of it.
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What this engagement is
Consultancy is time-limited and outcome-focused. It is the right engagement when the business needs a specific piece of technical work done — not an ongoing CTO function, but a defined intervention with a defined end.
The distinction from a fractional CTO engagement is simple: consultancy has a finish line. An architecture review. A governance framework. A data strategy. A technical position ahead of investment or audit.
When the work is done, it is done. What you have is a deliverable you can act on.
What gets delivered
Deliverables depend on the engagement. Typically they include one or more of the following:
- Architecture reviews — what the current system is, what it should be, and what it costs to close that gap
- Governance frameworks — the policies, controls, and operating structures that regulated industries require
- Data strategies — how the business should structure, own, and govern its data
- Technical due diligence — an independent technical assessment ahead of investment, acquisition, or regulatory review
- Platform specifications — what to build, how it should be structured, and what the delivery requires
- Standards and accessibility audits — evaluated against a consistent, tested framework
Where the situation calls for it, deliverables are opinionated. The report does not present options and leave the decision open. It presents a conclusion and a recommendation. Metrics are interpreted, not presented raw.
You get a point of view, not a data catalogue.
The approach
Every engagement begins with the data model.
Before recommending an architecture, reviewing a platform, or specifying a build — the data model is established. What data the business holds, how it is structured, where it lives, and how it moves. Most technical problems originate here. Most recommendations that ignore it fail to hold.
The same proven framework for security, standards, and accessibility is applied consistently across every engagement. Not adapted on the fly. Tested and refined over 10+ years of delivery.
Who this is for
- Organisations preparing for investment, audit, or regulatory review who need an independent technical assessment
- Businesses with a specific architecture or governance problem that needs resolving
- Leadership teams that need a technical position — not a list of options — before making a significant decision
- Enterprises evaluating a platform, vendor, or technology direction
Previous engagements include organisations including NHS and DHL Supply Chain.
From consultancy to ongoing
Many consultancy engagements reveal a need for ongoing technical leadership. A governance framework needs implementing. An architecture needs overseeing. A technical function needs a named authority.
Where that is the case, consultancy is a natural entry point into a fractional CTO engagement. The work done in the project becomes the foundation for the ongoing relationship.
Geography
Based in Cyprus. Available globally.
The Cyprus timezone bridges Europe, the Gulf, and Asia. Engagements are delivered remotely as standard, on-site where the work requires it.
Start a ConversationFrequently asked questions
How long does a consultancy engagement take? It depends entirely on scope. An architecture review or technical due diligence typically runs two to four weeks. A governance framework or data strategy may take longer. Scope is agreed before work begins.
What is the difference between consultancy and a fractional CTO engagement? Consultancy is time-limited and project-based — a defined scope with a defined end. A fractional CTO engagement is ongoing, embedded, and evolves with the organisation. Consultancy is the right starting point when the need is specific. Fractional CTO is right when the need is continuous.
Are your reports neutral or do they take a position? They take a position. Where the situation calls for it, reports are opinionated. Data is interpreted, not presented raw. The value is the conclusion, not the catalogue.
Do you work with businesses outside Cyprus? Yes. Based in Cyprus, operating globally. The timezone works in both directions.
How do engagements start? An initial 30-minute conversation to understand the business situation and the specific outcome required. Scope and timeline are agreed from there.
Richard King is CTO at Sixteen Pillars — technical leadership, architecture, and governance for organisations that need it without the overhead of a full-time hire.