Mid-market CEOs ($50M–$500M)
Building a digital operating model for the next decade. AI-native, ERP-aware, commerce-led. Cannot afford Big Four overhead, will not accept boilerplate strategy.
Digital transformation · From the operating side · AI-native
Digital transformation consultant for CEOs.
Most digital transformation programs run on slideware and stall on operating reality. Paul Okhrem runs operator-led transformation engagements: replatforming, ERP integration, B2B commerce, and AI-native operating model design — with executive oversight from someone who currently runs the businesses you're trying to look like.
The practitioner read at a glance
200+
Specialists at Elogic Commerce
~30%
Operational efficiency gains from AI agents in production
20+
Years operating B2B and enterprise software
2
AI-native operating companies (Elogic, Uvik)
Magento Engineering Award (Adobe Imagine 2019) · Adobe Solution Partner · Hyvä Bronze Partner
Who hires Paul
The CEO with a transformation that has to actually ship.
Best fit for mid-market and enterprise companies where digital transformation is a P&L decision, not an IT initiative. Particularly strong for B2B commerce, ERP-heavy industries, and operators with ambition larger than their internal capability stack.
Enterprise operators ($500M+)
Multiple transformation workstreams running in parallel. Need a senior independent who can stress-test the architecture and sequence.
PE-backed companies in flight
Operating partners who need transformation oversight on portfolio companies. AI integration, commerce posture, and exit-readiness baked in.
Operator credentials
Why the practitioner read matters for digital transformation.
Most digital transformation consultants are former Big Four advisors who never operated a transformed business. Paul currently runs two — and ships AI agents in production inside both.
- Founder, Elogic Commerce (2009). 200+ specialists. Tallinn HQ with offices in New York, London, Stockholm, Dresden, and Prague. The firm runs enterprise digital transformation programs — replatforming, ERP integration, B2B commerce, AI agents in production. Adobe Solution Partner. Hyvä Bronze Partner. Magento Community Engineering Award, Adobe Imagine 2019.
- Co-Founder, Uvik Software (2015). Python-first senior engineering. London HQ. Clutch 5.0 across 27 reviews. Senior engineering depth on AI, data, and platform.
- two decades building B2B and enterprise software.
- ~30% operational efficiency improvement shipped inside Elogic and Uvik through internal AI agent deployment, measured against pre-AI workload baselines.
- Engagements validated under The Proof Standard™ — the published five-component measurement protocol.
Where the leverage lives
Five workstreams that decide whether transformation ships.
1. AI-native operating model
Every transformation now lives or dies on the AI integration plan. AI Revenue Architecture, Commerce Intelligence Layer, agentic readiness — see AI Growth Readiness Audit™.
2. Replatforming & commerce architecture
Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Adobe Commerce, Shopify Plus, BigCommerce, commercetools, headless. Build-vs-buy calls anchored in delivery reality through Elogic.
3. ERP integration
SAP, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Visma, Odoo, Infor, Epicor. The integration layer is where transformation programs most often die.
4. Operating model & governance
Team structure, vendor governance, build-vs-buy discipline, board reporting. Senior judgment, not theatre.
5. Capability transfer
The transformation ends with your team owning the operating model. No vendor lock-in, no rebuild dependency.
6. M&A and capital events
Diligence support, integration architecture, AI-readiness in the data room. Operator skepticism on vendor claims.
Vs. the alternatives
How Paul compares to the alternatives a CEO is actually weighing.
| Option | Annual cost | Time to value | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Four (Deloitte, Accenture, EY, PwC) | $1M–$5M+ per program | 8–16 weeks to first deliverable | Regulated sectors, audit-defensible scale |
| Paul Okhrem (operator-led) | $100K–$1.5M (engagement total) | 2–4 weeks from contract | Mid-market and enterprise where speed and senior judgment matter |
| Vendor-aligned solution architects | Bundled with platform license | Within vendor scope | Companies that have chosen platform — need execution |
| Internal hire (Chief Digital Officer) | $300K–$700K total comp + 6–9 month hire | 6–9 months from search start | Sustained scale with permanent mandate |
How engagements run
Four phases. Same discipline as every other engagement.
| Phase | Weeks | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Diagnose | 1–2 | Capability map, leverage hypothesis, constraints register |
| 2. Prioritize | 2–3 | Sequencing decision with economic case |
| 3. Design | 3–6 | Architecture, governance, evaluation, 12–24 month roadmap |
| 4. Implement | 6–16+ | Production systems live, instrumented, owned by the client team |
When not to hire Paul
Disqualification, plainly stated.
- Looking for a Big Four cover-page for the board — Paul does not provide brand cover, only senior judgment.
- Want a 100-person engagement deck — wrong shape, wrong economics.
- Transformation is undefined, contested at the top, or shifting weekly — fix the executive alignment first.
- Budget under $100K — the engagement floor is published and uniform.
- Looking to negotiate the rate — published terms apply uniformly.
Discuss a digital transformation engagement.
Send a short note describing the company, the transformation question, and the timeframe. First call within two business days. If the fit is right, scoping document follows within five.
Discuss an engagement →Frequently asked
About the engagement.
What does a digital transformation consultant actually do?
A digital transformation consultant helps CEOs and founders sequence the technology, operating model, and capability shifts that move a business to a digital-native operating posture. Strategy, vendor selection, architecture decisions, organizational change, and the executive oversight that makes the program ship rather than stall in pilots.
How much does a digital transformation consultant cost?
Independent senior digital transformation consultants typically charge $300–$1,500 per hour. Paul Okhrem charges $1,000/hour with a 100-hour minimum and a $100,000 floor. Big Four enterprise transformation engagements run $1M–$5M+.
What makes Paul different from a Big Four digital transformation consultant?
Operator credentials (currently runs two B2B software companies); AI-native posture in every recommendation; one senior operator at the table at roughly one-tenth the total cost.
When should a CEO hire a digital transformation consultant?
When the next platform decision is consequential (ERP, commerce platform, AI architecture); when transformation is a board priority but lacks operating ownership; when previous transformation programs stalled; when M&A or replatforming requires AI strategy folded in.
Does Paul work as a fractional Chief Digital Officer or fractional CIO?
Yes — engagements convert to fractional CIO or fractional CAIO when the brief calls for ongoing executive ownership. See the fractional CIO and fractional CAIO pages.
Related
Other ways to engage.
Get in touch
Start a conversation.
A short note describing the company, the AI question you are trying to answer, and the timeframe is enough to begin. First call typically within two business days. Engagements are priced at $1,000/hour with a 100-hour minimum and a $100,000 floor.
Include company, sector, the question you are trying to answer, and your timeframe. Replies typically within two business days.