What does a fractional CMO do?

A fractional CMO leads the marketing function — setting strategy, managing the team, owning the budget, running agency relationships, building reporting structures, and driving the commercial results the business needs. Unlike a marketing consultant who advises from the outside, a fractional CMO is embedded in the organization and accountable for outcomes.

Fractional CMO Services | Hire a Fractional Chief Marketing Officer

A fractional CMO is an experienced chief marketing officer who works with your company on a part-time or retainer basis — providing the same strategic leadership, team direction, and commercial accountability as a full-time CMO, at a fraction of the cost. Fractional CMOs are ideal for mid-market companies that need senior marketing leadership without the commitment or expense of a full-time executive hire.

What I Do as Your Fractional CMO

I embed into your leadership team and run the marketing function as a true executive — not an outside consultant who submits decks and disappears. I build strategy, manage your team, own the budget, drive accountability, and report results to your CEO and board.

My background spans CMO of a $1.5B revenue organization, VP of Digital Marketing at The Venetian Las Vegas, and CCO of a global technology platform. I've managed marketing P&L, built teams from scratch, secured capital investment at the board level, and delivered sustained revenue growth through data-driven commercial discipline.

If your marketing isn't performing at the level your business needs — or you're scaling and don't have the right leadership in place — a fractional CMO engagement can accelerate your results immediately.

What's Included

Marketing strategy and annual planning
Team structure, hiring, and performance management
P&L ownership and budget management
Agency selection, management, and accountability
Go-to-market strategy and execution
Customer acquisition and retention strategy
Brand strategy and positioning
Marketing technology stack assessment and optimization
Data and analytics infrastructure
Board and executive reporting
Pricing and yield management strategy
CRM and lifecycle marketing programs

Why Fractional

The Case for a Fractional CMO

A full-time CMO costs $250k–$400k per year in total compensation — before benefits, equity, or severance. A fractional CMO delivers equivalent strategic leadership at significantly lower cost, with more flexibility.

Fraction of the Cost

Get Fortune 500 CMO experience for $8k–$15k/month — versus $300k+/year for a full-time hire. Plus no benefits, equity, or severance obligations.

Immediate Impact

No onboarding ramp. I've run marketing organizations at scale. I assess quickly, prioritize ruthlessly, and build momentum from week one.

Flexible Engagement

Scale up or down based on your needs. Ideal for companies in transition, going through a growth phase, or filling a gap before a permanent hire.

Who I Help

Is a Fractional CMO Right for You?

High-Growth Companies

Scaling fast and need senior marketing leadership to professionalize your commercial engine before you can justify a full-time CMO hire.

Companies in Transition

Your CMO just left and you need experienced leadership to maintain momentum, assess the team, and set strategy while you recruit.

PE/VC-Backed Companies

Investor-backed companies that need commercial performance and accountability before the next milestone — without adding permanent headcount.

FAQ

Fractional CMO Questions

A fractional CMO is an experienced chief marketing officer who works with a company on a part-time or retainer basis rather than as a full-time employee. A fractional CMO provides the same strategic leadership, team direction, and commercial accountability as a full-time CMO — at a fraction of the cost. This model is ideal for mid-market companies, high-growth businesses, and PE-backed companies that need executive marketing leadership without a permanent C-suite hire.

A marketing consultant advises. A fractional CMO leads. As your fractional CMO, I'm embedded in your organization — I manage your team, own the budget, run agency relationships, attend leadership meetings, and report results to your CEO. I'm accountable to the same commercial outcomes as a full-time executive, not just to the quality of a deliverable.

Fractional CMO engagements typically run $8,000–$20,000 per month depending on scope, hours, and complexity. This compares favorably to a full-time CMO, which typically costs $250,000–$400,000 per year in total compensation — before benefits, equity, or severance. Most engagements run on a monthly retainer with a minimum 3-month commitment.

Typically 15–30 hours per month in a standard fractional engagement, scaling up to 60+ hours per month for larger programs or during critical periods such as product launches, rebrands, or go-to-market initiatives. Scope is defined upfront and adjusted as your needs evolve.

My deepest domain expertise is in gaming, hospitality, entertainment, and B2C/B2B technology platforms. I've also worked across ecommerce, professional services, and SaaS. The common thread is companies with customer data, revenue complexity, and a need for both strategic direction and disciplined execution.

I can typically start within 2–3 weeks of signing an agreement. I begin every engagement with a structured 30-day discovery period — assessing team, strategy, technology, data, and commercial performance — before delivering an honest assessment and 90-day action plan.