For boards and chairs
Technology Board Advisor
Independent technology assurance and strategic counsel at board level, without a full-time executive.
For chairs, boards, and investors of UK mid-market scaling businesses who need a credible technology voice in the room. You get an experienced advisor who gives your board clarity on technology strategy, risk, and readiness, and the confidence to make big decisions well.
TALK TO A TECHNOLOGY BOARD ADVISOR
We are Boardman.
We place technology board advisors with decades of experience at the top table of UK scaling businesses.
Our advisors have sat on boards, led through IPOs and acquisitions, and given chairs and investors the independent technology assurance they need to govern with confidence.
Does this sound like your board?
- Does your board lack an independent technology voice when the big decisions land?
- Are you facing a raise, an acquisition, or a transformation with no one to test the technology case?
- Do you need assurance on cyber, AI, and data risk that you can stand behind?
- Are investors asking technology questions your board cannot confidently answer?
...we can help.
Grab a virtual coffee and tell us what your board is weighing up.
What is a technology board advisor?
Aligning Technology with Business Goals
A technology board advisor is an experienced, independent technology leader who counsels your board, giving assurance on technology strategy, risk, and major decisions without taking an executive or delivery role. You get a trusted voice at board level, scaled to the moments that matter most.
The role is about oversight and judgement, not hands-on delivery. A technology board advisor challenges strategy, tests the big technology bets, oversees risk, and makes sure the board is ready for milestones like a funding round, an acquisition, or a transformation. It is closely related to a technology non-executive director, the difference being that an advisor offers ongoing counsel without the formal appointment and statutory duties of a NED.
This is a different thing from a fractional CTO or CIO. A fractional executive leads the technology function and is accountable for delivery. A board advisor sits above that, giving the board an independent perspective on whether the strategy and the risks stack up.
It is also different from a consultant. A consultant delivers a project and moves on. A board advisor holds an ongoing relationship with your board, knows your business over time, and is there when the next decision arrives.
When does a board need one?
Boards usually reach for an advisor at a moment of consequence. A few common triggers:
Your board has no independent technology expertise of its own, and is relying on management's word for decisions it cannot fully test.
You are facing a major technology-dependent decision, a raise, an acquisition, a platform transformation, where getting it wrong is expensive and hard to undo.
You need assurance on cyber, AI, or data risk that the board can stand behind, to regulators, to investors, and to itself.
Your investors are asking technology questions, due diligence, scalability, security, that the board cannot currently answer with confidence.
You are professionalising governance as you scale, and technology oversight is the gap.
If any of these sound like your board, a technology board advisor is the fastest way to add independent, credible oversight at the level it is needed.
What our board advisors provide
Four areas of board-level oversight and assurance.
Technology strategy aligned to business goals
You get independent challenge on whether your technology strategy actually serves the commercial plan, and the confidence that it does.
Risk identification and oversight
You get a senior eye on the technology risks the board should be watching, surfaced early and governed properly, not discovered too late.
Cybersecurity and compliance assurance
You get independent assurance on your security and compliance posture, so the board can answer to investors, customers, and regulators with confidence.
Milestone readiness
You get your board prepared for the decisions that matter, funding rounds, acquisitions, and transformations, with the technology case tested before it is put to the test by others.
Board advisor, fractional executive, NED, or consultant?
These roles are easily confused. Here is how they differ, and which fits which need.
If what your business actually needs is hands-on leadership rather than board counsel, that is a fractional executive, and we place those too. See our fractional CTO and fractional CIO services, and we will help you work out which level fits.
How much does a technology board advisor cost?
Board advisory is typically a lighter, intermittent engagement, so it costs far less than a full-time or even a fractional executive. You are buying judgement at the moments that matter, not day-to-day delivery.
Cost depends on how often your board needs the advisor, the seniority and track record you want at the table, and how involved they are around key milestones. A standing seat at quarterly board meetings looks very different from intensive support through a transaction.
The point is you get independent, board-level technology counsel for a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive. Book a discovery call and we will give you a clear figure for your situation.
How it works
- Initial Call. A quick, no-pressure conversation about what your board is facing.
- Meet Your Advisor. We introduce you to the right advisor from our bench.
- Board and Business Deep Dive. They get to understand your business, your board, and your priorities.
- Ongoing Counsel. They give your board independent technology guidance and assurance, at the cadence you need.
- Milestone Support. They step up around the decisions that matter, from raises to acquisitions.
- A Lasting Relationship. They stay close as you grow, so the counsel gets sharper over time.
Book a no-pressure intro meet below
Hereā€™s what our collaboration could look like:
- Initial Call: Weā€™ll jump on a quick, 15-minute call to discuss who you are, what you do, and your current challenges and objectives.
- Meet Your Technology Board Advisor: Weā€™ll pair you with our most experiencedĀ advisor for your specific challenges.
- Company Deep Dive: Your newĀ Advisor will speak directly with key staff to discover challenges and opportunities we can work on.
- Customized Plan: From there, theyā€™ll develop a plan that outlines the steps youā€™ll take together to achieve your goals.
- Execution: Youā€™ll set milestones and start executing the plan. OurĀ Technology Board Advisor will work closely with you and your team to ensure success.
- Ongoing Support: OurĀ Advisor wonā€™t just leave you after the project is done. Theyā€™ll provide ongoing support and adjustments to keep your company on track.
Book a no-pressure intro meet below.
Questions? Check out our FAQs.
What is a technology board advisor?
What's the difference between a technology board advisor and a technology NED?
How is this different from a fractional CTO or CIO?
What's the difference between a board advisor and a consultant?
Is a technology board advisor right for our board?
How do we start working together?
Can a board advisor help us through due diligence or a major milestone?
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AboutĀ Us
- A highly skilled and experienced team of technology leaders at your service.
- Our Board Advisors provide strategic guidance to hundreds of SMEs.
- We drive business growth and deliver real impact.
- Ready to get started whenever you areā€”even as soon as tomorrow!