As a fractional executive, I hold a senior leadership seat part-time, as CEO, COO, Chief Growth Officer, Chief Revenue Officer or President, for companies that need senior leadership without a full-time hire.
Who is it for?
Founder-led, family-owned and investor-backed companies, roughly 20 to 250 employees, that need senior leadership in a seat but aren't ready for a full-time hire, or want to define the role before they fill it.
When does it fit?
- "We've outgrown the founder doing everything, but we can't justify a full-time COO yet."
- "Our revenue engine needs a senior leader to build the sales and growth plan."
- "The owner is still the bottleneck, and we need someone to run the business day to day."
- "We want to professionalize before we hire a permanent executive."
Which seats do you fill?
I take fractional roles as CEO, COO, Chief Growth Officer, Chief Revenue Officer or President. I don't take fractional CFO or CMO roles.
What's included?
I take ownership of the seat's responsibilities for the agreed part of the week. Depending on the role, that includes:
- A 90-day or 12-month operating plan
- A KPI scorecard and dashboard, with a monthly, quarterly and annual review cadence
- An org chart and role definitions, and help developing and recruiting leaders
- A budget and forecast
- A go-to-market or channel plan for growth and revenue roles
- Board or investor reporting
- SOPs and workflows so the role can be handed to a full-time hire
Formats and typical length
- Fractional Executive: about one day a week, typically for 3 to 12 months.
Every engagement is scoped and priced in writing after a first conversation.
Who does the work?
I hold the seat personally. The M2 Ventures team can support with hands-on execution under my direction and review. All engagements are contracted and billed through M2 Ventures.
How does an engagement start?
- You send a short note about the business and what you need.
- I reply within two business days, with times for a call.
- We talk for 30 minutes, at no cost, about whether and how I can help.
- If it's a fit, I send a written scope and proposal, including the role's responsibilities and time commitment.
Relevant experience
- Carried the CEO, COO, CFO and CMO remits at once as sole executive officer of a 100+ person company.
- Developed existing leaders, recruited where there were gaps and installed an operating rhythm of monthly, quarterly and annual reviews.
- Built a wholesale sales team from zero and a six-person in-house marketing team.
- Serve today as Strategic Advisor and Chief Growth Officer of a trades business in centralized hot water systems.
See it in practice: Professionalizing a founder-led manufacturer and retailer.
Frequently asked questions
Who can serve as a fractional COO for a founder-led company?
A fractional COO should be someone who has run operations as the senior executive, not only advised on them. I've served as sole executive officer of a 100+ person company and co-founder and CEO of a venture-backed, multi-state operating company in regulated consumer products, and I work part-time with founder-led companies as COO, CEO or President.
What does a fractional chief growth officer do?
A fractional chief growth officer owns the company's growth plan part-time: the channels, the sales and marketing team, the targets and the reporting behind them. The aim is a growth engine the company can run without me.
How much does a fractional executive cost?
Fractional roles are priced monthly, based on the seat, the time commitment and the level of responsibility, and agreed in writing before work begins. Because the role is part-time, it costs a fraction of a full-time executive.
How many days a week does a fractional executive work?
Usually about one day a week, adjusted to what the role needs. The time commitment is agreed in the written scope.
How long does a fractional engagement last?
Typically 3 to 12 months. When the company is ready for a full-time executive, I can help define and fill the role.
What's the difference between fractional and interim?
A fractional executive works part-time alongside the team. An interim executive holds the seat with full management authority, usually during a vacancy or transition.
Ready to talk? Discuss an Engagement