📋 Strategic Positioning
CSL Behring is one of the world's largest biotherapeutics manufacturers, with critical infrastructure spanning King of Prussia PA (HQ), Bern Switzerland, Marburg Germany, and the future Kankakee IL expansion. AHEAD has an active engagement as the infrastructure modernization partner — delivering Nutanix HCI, network lifecycle management, and backup/recovery solutions.
Our strategic position: AHEAD is the architect of CSL Cloud — a hybrid cloud model combining AWS (public, TMP workloads) with Nutanix (private, on-premises manufacturing). We are not a vendor. We are CSL's platform partner.
The window is NOW. A new CEO is being selected. The board is evaluating strategic vendor relationships. Kevin Shea is presenting our vision on October 1st. Everything we do in the next 30 days determines whether we become embedded for the long term — including the $1.5B Kankakee build-out.
The MSP RFP (Capgemini, HCL, Tech Mahindra) is our most dangerous threat. AHEAD was not invited. We must either get included or reframe ourselves as the Platform Architect that governs whatever MSP they select.
♟️ Our Play
- Own the architecture, not the labor. Position AHEAD as the platform architect. Let MSPs do day-ops. We design, govern, and expand.
- CSL Cloud narrative: AWS is public cloud. Nutanix is private cloud. Together = CSL Cloud. AHEAD architects both sides.
- Kevin is the lever. Keep Kevin Shea energized, informed, and armed with compelling materials for his Oct 1 board presentation.
- Get in front of Kenya. She's the CIO. Use Kevin + Craig to get access. The Oct 1 presentation is our best shot.
- Kankakee is the prize. $1.5B greenfield. Get named as the IT architecture partner NOW, before anyone else stakes that claim.
- IaaS-as-a-Service by Sept 30. Kevin needs this for Mark Hill. It must be board-ready, financially compelling, and operationally credible.
CSL Cloud™
AHEAD Framework
Board Proposal Sept 1
The hybrid cloud architecture positioning — unifying public and private cloud under one operating model. Global physical sites included.
AWS
Public Cloud (Digital Core)
Landing zones · Guardrails · Identity · Logging · Cost visibility · Marketplace · FinOps
Nutanix
Private Cloud + NC2 Burst
HCI on-prem · Replaces 3-tier stacks · NC2 = burst + portability to AWS · Reduces VMware/Broadcom exposure
↓ Together =
CSL Cloud
One operating model · Consistent governance · Global physical sites included · Delivered by AHEAD
⚙️ Automation Layer (Common Thread)
🔧 Terraform + Ansible — one code base for both clouds
🔄 CI/CD Pipeline — standardized builds + repeatable change
📊 ServiceNow + Dynatrace — ITSM + observability
💰 FinOps — continuous cost visibility across all layers
🗼 Control Tower Model
🏢 CSL Retains
- ✦ Business strategy decisions
- ✦ Quality oversight
- ✦ Regulatory compliance direction
- ✦ OEM vendor relationships
⚙️ AHEAD Owns
- → Integrated architecture
- → Service ownership
- → Engineering + automation
- → PMO + transition management
- → Lifecycle management
- → 24×7×365 global MSP operations
📐 6-Step AHEAD Engagement Model
🔍
1
Mobilize
Align teams, scope, kickoff
📋
2
Assess
Current state baseline
🎨
3
Design
Target architecture
🧪
4
Prove
Bounded proof point
🚀
5
Scale
Roll out across estate
📈
6
Improve
Optimize + automate
🏭 Asset Ownership Framework
OPTION 1: CSL-Owned, AHEAD-Managed
- ✓ Preserves CSL control + leverage
- ✓ CSL sets refresh timing
- ✓ As-a-service ops on owned assets
- ⚠️ Manufacturing workloads: lean this way
OPTION 2: AHEAD-Owned or Financed
- ✓ Predictable consumption model
- ✓ Less upfront CapEx required
- ✓ AHEAD carries asset lifecycle
- ⚠️ Not for regulated manufacturing
Assessment determines right fit per workload. Same operating model runs on either ownership structure.
💰 Automation Dividend & Financial Context
Commercial Model: Cost Bends Down
Cost-to-serve decreases as estate standardizes and automates. Full financial model requires CSL data (Susanna Warfield, ~1 month).
CSL Transformation Financial Context
FY26 Savings Target
$176M
FY27 Savings Target
$400M
FY28 Savings Target
$550M
Source: AWS case study "Reinventing CSL through Cloud Transformation and Agentic AI" · AHEAD = AWS Premier Tier Services Partner
🏆 Win Themes
Theme 01
Lead the Modernization
AHEAD architects the transition from legacy infrastructure to CSL Cloud. We're not selling product — we're leading transformation. Every site, every workload, one vision.
Theme 02
Demonstrate Outcomes
Bern NTS migration. Nutanix HCI phases 1-3. Network LCM. Each delivered engagement builds the case. Oct 1 board presentation = our proof-of-performance moment.
Theme 03
Sustainable Ops Model
IaaS-as-a-Service with a clear cost model. Show CSL they get enterprise-grade ops with predictable spend — better than any offshore MSP can offer at our quality level.
Theme 04
CSL's Embedded Partner
Before the new CEO arrives. Before the MSP RFP closes. Embed AHEAD as the platform architect — named in org charts, roadmaps, and board decks.
Theme 05
Kankakee Is the Prize
$1.5B greenfield. Operational 2031. Whoever architects the IT from ground up owns it for decades. Get AHEAD named now — before anyone else stakes that claim.
Theme 06
DevSecOps Expansion
Senthil runs Cloud/DevSecOps. Discovery session week of Sept 15. This is the path to tripling our engagement scope — from infra to full-stack platform services.
⚔️ Competitive Positioning — MSP RFP
🚨 STATUS: AHEAD NOT INVITED. Capgemini, HCL, Tech Mahindra shortlisted for $12-15M/yr managed services contract. Immediate escalation required.
Capgemini
Large global SI. Will compete on scale, offshore delivery model, and existing CSL relationships in other business units.
↗ Counter: We offer senior architect quality (Chris Blake $500/hr) with accountability. Capgemini delivers junior offshore. Quality vs. volume.
HCL Technologies
Strong infrastructure managed services. Will low-ball pricing and promise everything. Big brand name with CSL procurement.
↗ Counter: HCL doesn't know the CSL environment. AHEAD does. We've been in Bern. We know the manufacturing change control. That knowledge is priceless.
Tech Mahindra
Cost-aggressive offshore model. Will undercut on price. May propose managed services wrap on platforms we've already deployed.
↗ Counter: Reframe: AHEAD is the platform architect. TechM can do day-ops on infrastructure WE designed. We govern. They execute. Different layer.
ESCALATION PLAY
Reframe AHEAD's Position
If we can't get into the MSP RFP: propose AHEAD as the "Platform Architect & Design Authority" role — separate from managed services. We own design, governance, and innovation. MSP executes day-to-day. This is architecturally correct AND politically defensible. Kevin needs to champion this internally.
✅ Strategic Goals
Get included in MSP RFP process
Escalate through Kevin + Craig. Deadline: before RFP closes.
Win IaaS Advisory Engagement ($150K-$500K)
Deliver IaaS-as-a-service strategy by Sept 30. Kevin presents Oct 1.
Own the Platform Architecture Design
Named as CSL's Platform Design Authority. AHEAD architects the CSL Cloud model.
Expand scope to DevSecOps (Senthil)
Convert discovery/design session into a formal DevSecOps engagement.
Get named for Kankakee build-out planning
$1.5B greenfield facility. Operational 2031. Get into the conversation NOW.
Execute Bern GBW-to-NTS migration (Sept 28)
Chris Blake owns. Perfect execution = proof of AHEAD's operational capability.
Support Kevin's Oct 1 board presentation
Arm Kevin with compelling materials. Kenya + Mark Hill + board seeing AHEAD's vision.
📝 Additional Notes & Strategy
Add your strategic notes here. Click ✏️ Edit in the nav to enable editing, then Save when done.
Key things to remember:
- CSL drug manufacturing is highly regulated — every change needs formal approval
- Sept 28 Bern migration cannot fail — it's our proof-of-execution moment
- The CEO transition creates a 60-day window — don't waste it
- Craig Martin is a genuine ally — use him, don't burn him
- Kankakee: get in front of whoever owns the IT expansion planning NOW