Insights
What is a fractional CEO, and when does a company need one?
A fractional CEO is a senior chief executive who leads your company part-time or interim, owning strategy and execution and accountable for the outcome rather than a full-time salary.
In short
A fractional CEO is an experienced chief executive who runs your company on a part-time or interim basis. They own the strategy, drive delivery and carry accountability for the result, giving a business CEO-level leadership without the cost or permanence of a full-time hire. It suits companies that need a senior operator now: between CEOs, scaling past the founder, or fixing something broken.
The direct answer
A fractional CEO is a chief executive you engage part-time. They take real ownership of the company's direction and its delivery, sit in the top seat in practice if not on paper, and are measured on the outcome. The word fractional refers to time and cost, not seniority. You are buying a full CEO, for a fraction of the week.
We come at this from the operator side. We have run a marketing budget of 120M at LeoVegas, delivered 50M of incremental revenue, and led companies as CEO through turnaround to an EBITA improvement of 18 points. A fractional CEO engagement puts that same firepower inside your business, accountable for the number.
What a fractional CEO actually owns
The strategy and the operating plan, not just advice on them. The leadership team: hiring, focusing and holding it accountable. The numbers: cash, margin, growth and the handful of metrics that decide whether the company wins. And the hard calls that a founder or board has been putting off because nobody owned them.
Fractional, interim or advisory
| Model | Time | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Fractional CEO | Ongoing, part-time | Steady senior leadership without a full-time seat |
| Interim CEO | Full-time, fixed term | A gap to cover or a fast reset under one driver |
| Advisory | Light touch | Capable leadership that lacks the playbook |
We often start advisory to diagnose, then step into a fractional or interim seat when the situation needs hands on the wheel.
When a company needs one
Between CEOs, when the board needs a credible operator in command now. When a founder has built the company but the next stage needs a different kind of leadership. When growth has stalled and the plan needs an owner, not another report. Or when the business is in trouble and lenders want someone accountable at the top.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Is a fractional CEO the same as a consultant?
No. A consultant recommends and leaves. A fractional CEO takes ownership, makes the calls and is accountable for the result, the same as a full-time CEO would be.
How many days a week does a fractional CEO work?
Typically one to three days, scaled to the situation. The point is ownership and accountability, not hours logged.
Tell us the goal. We make it happen.
We deploy senior operator firepower and produce massive results. No excuses, just results.