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Cyber Advisors, LLC
09/18/2026
Founder Shane Vinup Transitions to Board of Directors and Strategic Advisor Following Planned Succession Process with Sterling Investment Partners
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. September 18, 2026 - Cyber Advisors, a leading provider of cybersecurity, managed IT, and cloud solutions, today announced the appointment of Fred Purdue as Chief Executive Officer. Founder and CEO Shane Vinup, who has led the company since establishing it in 1997, is retiring from day-to-day operations and transitioning to a Board of Directors and a Senior Strategic Advisor role.
The transition follows a deliberate succession planning process initiated by Vinup and Cyber Advisors’ financial sponsor, Sterling Investment Partners, which acquired the company in March 2026. Over the past nine months, Purdue has worked directly with Cyber Advisors’ leadership team and board to shape the firm's five-year Value Creation Plan, evaluate market opportunities, and establish priorities for scaled operational and technological expansion.
"After nearly three decades building Cyber Advisors from a single-consultant practice into a scaled, nationally recognized managed service and cybersecurity leader, the timing is right for this transition," said Shane Vinup, Founder of Cyber Advisors. "Our goal was to identify an executive who not only possesses deep technical and operational acumen across managed services, but who also respects the culture, people, and client commitments that define us. Having collaborated closely with Fred on our strategic roadmap, I have complete confidence in his vision and ability to steer Cyber Advisors through its next era of growth."
Purdue brings 30 years of technology leadership, operations, and transaction execution experience. He was the founding partner and CEO of Axiom Technology Group, an IT managed services provider that he scaled and successfully exited in 2022. Most recently, Purdue served as a Partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions practice at West Monroe, where he led technology diligence, value creation planning, post-merger integration, and carve-outs for leading middle-market private equity sponsors across the country. Purdue also led West Monroe’s technology services provider COE, which has advised 60+ service providers over the last three years on their own acquisition, growth, and equity strategies.
"Shane and the Cyber Advisors team have built an exceptional, high-integrity platform with significant competitive advantages in the lower mid-market," said James Soldano, Managing Partner at Sterling Investment Partners. "Fred’s rare combination of MSP founder-operator experience, strategic M&A execution, and technical discipline makes him the ideal leader to accelerate Cyber Advisors’ organic growth and buy-and-build strategy. We are grateful to Shane for his leadership and partnership."
As CEO, Purdue will focus on operational excellence, disciplined geographic and sector expansion through organic initiatives and strategic acquisitions, and the development of next-generation service offerings. A central pillar of the strategy involves establishing Cyber Advisors as the market's primary technology accountability partner for mid-market enterprises - removing the operational friction of IT infrastructure and compliance while building enterprise-grade Managed AI capabilities.
"Cyber Advisors has built an enviable reputation anchored by exceptional client trust and operational depth," said Fred Purdue, incoming Chief Executive Officer. "Mid-market organizations face an increasingly complex threat landscape and a generational shift toward automated, AI-enabled operating models. Our objective is clear: to lift the burden of foundational technology and cybersecurity from our clients, take real commercial accountability for their environments, and systematically scale our capabilities across regulated industries. I look forward to working alongside our talented team, our board, and Sterling Investment Partners to execute our long-term plan."
About Cyber Advisors
Cyber Advisors is a leading provider of cybersecurity, cloud, and managed IT services headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Founded in 1997, the company delivers comprehensive and client-centric technology infrastructure, 24/7 security monitoring, compliance oversight, and digital transformation solutions to more than 1,800 organizations nationwide. For more information, visit www.cyberadvisors.com.
About Sterling Investment Partners
Sterling Investment Partners is a leading private equity firm that has been investing in and building middle-market companies for over 30 years. Sterling focuses on control investments in value-added distribution and business services, acquiring businesses that possess strong competitive advantages and substantial opportunities for long-term value creation. Over its history, Sterling has completed over 280 transactions representing more than $34 billion in aggregate transaction value. For more information, visit www.sterlinglp.com.
