Chris Burton

Fractional CMO. Senior marketing leadership for ambitious businesses.

A Fractional CMO gives your business access to senior marketing leadership on a flexible basis, helping you strengthen strategy, improve marketing performance and support sustainable growth without the cost of a full-time CMO.

  • 100+
    Senior CMOs
  • 1,400+
    Businesses supported
  • Flexible
    Marketing leadership across the UK

Why businesses choose a Fractional CMO

  • 01.

    Access senior marketing leadership without a full-time hire

    Many businesses need experienced marketing leadership but do not yet require, or want, a permanent full-time CMO.

  • 02.

    Bring greater direction to your marketing activity

    A Fractional CMO helps align marketing activity to business objectives, ensuring investment and priorities support commercial growth.

  • 03.

    Improve marketing accountability and performance

    Clearer measurement, stronger leadership and better alignment help businesses improve confidence in marketing performance.

  • 04.

    Support growth through periods of change

    Fractional CMOs are often brought in during periods of growth, transition, restructuring or commercial change where stronger strategic leadership is needed.

What is a Fractional CMO?

A Fractional CMO is an experienced senior marketing leader who works with your business on a part-time or flexible basis.

Unlike a consultant delivering isolated recommendations, our Fractional CMOs become embedded within the business, working alongside leadership teams to shape strategy, support execution and improve commercial outcomes.

This gives you access to strategic marketing expertise without the cost, risk or commitment of a permanent executive hire.

The benefits of a Fractional CMO

A Fractional CMO helps businesses strengthen the connection between marketing activity and commercial growth.

The role combines strategic leadership with practical oversight, helping businesses make better decisions, improve performance and create greater alignment across teams.

Marketing leadership becomes critical once growth is no longer straightforward.

  • Clearer strategic direction

    Define marketing priorities, focus investment and align activity to business goals.

  • Better commercial alignment

    Strengthen the connection between marketing, sales and wider business performance.

  • More effective leadership

    Support internal teams, improve accountability and create clearer ownership.

  • Greater flexibility

    Access senior expertise at the level the business needs, without unnecessary overhead.

How a Fractional CMO
works with your business

  • Understand the business and commercial priorities

    Your Fractional CMO works closely with the leadership team to assess business goals, market position, marketing performance and growth opportunities.

  • Define strategic priorities

    Clear objectives, focus areas and opportunities are identified to create stronger alignment and direction.

  • Lead marketing performance

    Your CMO provides ongoing strategic leadership, helping guide execution, improve accountability and strengthen results.

  • Support sustainable growth

    As the business evolves, your Fractional CMO helps adapt strategy, strengthen capability and maintain momentum.

What a Fractional CMO can help with

Fractional CMOs support businesses across a wide range of strategic and commercial areas, including:

Strategy and positioning

  • Marketing strategy and planning
  • Brand positioning and messaging
  • Audience targeting and value proposition

Growth and performance

  • Lead generation and pipeline growth
  • Marketing performance and measurement
  • Sales and marketing alignment

Leadership and execution

  • Team leadership and mentoring
  • Agency and supplier management
  • Board-level reporting and strategic planning

Every engagement is tailored to the needs, priorities and stage of the business.

Frequently asked questions

  • What does a Fractional CMO do?

    A Fractional CMO provides the same strategic marketing leadership as a full-time Chief Marketing Officer but works part-time, typically one to two days per week. They define your marketing strategy, set priorities, manage your team or agencies, and report directly to the CEO or board on commercial outcomes.

  • What is the difference between a Fractional CMO and a freelance marketing consultant?

    A freelance marketing consultant typically delivers a project or piece of work and then moves on. A Fractional CMO embeds within the business, attends leadership meetings, takes strategic ownership, and is accountable for outcomes over the long term. The relationship is closer to a part-time executive than an external supplier.

  • How does The Marketing Centre’s Fractional CMO service work?

    The Marketing Centre matches each client with a senior Marketing Director from its network of 100+ experienced CMOs, drawing on blue-chip backgrounds across sectors. Your Marketing Director works as an integrated part of your leadership team, while drawing on collective knowledge and frameworks built from over 1,400 client engagements.

  • Can one Fractional CMO cover everything my marketing function needs?

    A Fractional CMO leads the strategy and coordinates all marketing activity, supported by The Marketing Centre’s wider network and structured frameworks. Where execution capacity is needed, the Activation Team can be added to ensure strategy translates into consistent action without additional headcount.

  • What is a Fractional CMO?

    A Fractional CMO, also known as a fractional Chief Marketing Officer, is a part-time, outsourced marketing executive who provides strategic marketing leadership to businesses without the full-time commitment and cost of an in-house CMO.

  • Why hire a Fractional CMO?

    Hiring a Fractional CMO offers several advantages. Firstly, it provides access to high-level marketing expertise without the full-time cost commitment. Fractional CMOs often have extensive experience and can offer strategic guidance and leadership to your marketing team. They can help identify growth opportunities, develop effective marketing strategies, and oversee the implementation of campaigns. Additionally, they can bring an objective perspective to your business, helping you to make informed decisions. This can be particularly valuable for businesses that may not have the resources or need for a full-time CMO.

  • What services does a Fractional CMO provide?

    Fractional CMOs provide strategic marketing leadership, including and not limited to: growth strategy development, brand positioning, digital marketing oversight, team management and performance tracking to drive results without the cost of a full-time executive.

  • What does a contract with a Fractional CMO look like?

    This will be dependent on your business needs, it could be a few months to provide marketing leadership in preparation or a big project launch, to an ongoing relationship. The Marketing Centre provides flexible contracts that can be cancelled anytime, no questions asked.

  • How many hours does a Fractional CMO work?

    The number of hours a Fractional CMO works can vary depending on the specific needs of the business they are working with. However, it is generally accepted that a Fractional CMO will work between 10 and 20 hours per week.

    Some Fractional CMOs may work fewer hours per week, while others may work more. The exact number of hours will depend on the scope of the project, the size of the business, and the specific needs of the client. 

    It is important to note that Fractional CMOs are typically paid on an hourly basis. This means that the client will only pay for the hours that the CMO actually works. This can be a more cost-effective option for businesses that do not need a full-time CMO.

  • How much does a Fractional CMO cost?

    The cost of a fractional marketing director varies based on their experience, location, and the scope of services needed. However, it’s crucial to consider the potential ROI and the value they bring to your business, not just the upfront cost. To learn more about how a fractional marketing director can elevate your business, contact us today for a free consultation.

  • How do I find a Fractional CMO?

    Finding a Fractional CMO involves identifying experienced marketing leaders who can seamlessly integrate into your business on a part-time basis. Look for professionals with a proven track record of driving growth, aligning marketing strategies with business goals, and delivering measurable results. The Marketing Centre provides access to senior-level CMOs with proven expertise across various industries gained over many years across companies of all sizes.

  • Why choose The Marketing Centre?

    The Marketing Centre specialises in providing seasoned CMOs who become embedded in your business, delivering strategic and hands-on support. Since 2010, they’ve helped over 1,400 businesses achieve significant growth by aligning marketing efforts with overarching business objectives. Their Fractional CMOs are highly skilled in developing and implementing strategies that drive ROI, offering a cost-effective alternative to hiring a full-time CMO.

  • Why choose a Fractional CMO over other marketing professionals?

    A Fractional CMO offers the strategic oversight and leadership of a full-time senior marketing leader at a fraction of the cost. Unlike junior marketers or agencies, Fractional CMOs lead, plan, and execute strategies while being flexible enough to scale their efforts based on your needs. This approach is particularly effective for businesses needing high-level expertise without the commitment of a permanent hire.

  • What industries does The Marketing Centre work with?

    The Marketing Centre serves businesses across a wide array of industries, including manufacturing, technology, healthcare, professional services, retail, and more. Their CMOs bring expertise tailored to the specific challenges and opportunities within each sector.

Experienced marketing leadership, aligned to your business

A Fractional CMO helps businesses bring greater focus, accountability and strategic direction to marketing, strengthening how growth is planned, measured and delivered.