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

Salt Digital Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 185,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

Salt Digital Recruitment is partnering with a leading financial services organisation to appoint an IT Carve-Out Programme Director (M&A Technology) for a high-profile acquisition programme in Paris, hybrid model.

You will lead the technology workstream through pre-closing and Day 1 readiness, coordinating Enterprise Architecture, Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Applications and Vendors, while ensuring regulatory controls and seamless separation.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading large IT carve-outs or separation programmes in regulated environments.
• Experience working with executive sponsors and external advisory partners.
• Ability to establish governance, reporting and RAID management.
• Strong capability in Day 1 readiness and post‑merger separation planning.
• Fluency in French and English is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end IT workstream for a major acquisition.
• Establish programme governance, reporting, RAID management and Steering Committees.
• Act as client-side lead for external IT advisory partner and review recommendations.
• Coordinate with Enterprise Architecture, Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Applications, Operations and Vendor Management.
• Oversee development of separation strategy, Day 1 readiness, TSA planning and exit governance.
• Ensure regulatory requirements and operational resilience are addressed.
• Mobilise post‑closing implementation programme.

Skills

Executive governance

Stakeholder management

Programme leadership

Risk management

Fluent French & English

Job description

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

About the Opportunity

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.

Key Responsibilities

• 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.

What We’re Looking For

• 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.

Essential Requirements

• 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