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Fractional Leadership

Fractional Chief AI Officer

Senior AI leadership without the full-time hire — I own your AI roadmap, governance and adoption at roughly 60% of the cost of a full-time CAIO, with no recruitment delay.

SF
Why fractional

A full-time Chief AI Officer costs $400K–$600K and takes months to hire. Most organisations need senior AI leadership and judgement long before they need — or can justify — a permanent executive. A fractional CAIO gives you that leadership now, on flexible terms.

Why it matters

Why fractional leadership fits the moment

Most organisations need senior AI judgement long before they need — or can justify — a full-time Chief AI Officer at $400K-$600K. The risk of hiring too early is a permanent role defining its own mandate; the risk of waiting is drift while the UAE mandate clock runs.

A fractional CAIO resolves that tension: senior ownership of your roadmap, governance and adoption now, on flexible monthly terms, at roughly 60% of the cost — with a natural path to a permanent hire once the role and business case are proven.

Signs this is for you
  • You need senior AI ownership now but not a full-time hire yet
  • Pilots are working and need leadership to scale safely
  • The UAE mandate requires experienced direction quickly
  • You want to prove the value before committing to a $500K role
What I’d own

The mandate

AI strategy and roadmap ownershipAI governance and responsible-AI frameworkUse-case prioritisation and portfolioVendor and delivery-partner coordinationAdoption tracking and change managementBoard and executive AI reporting
When it makes sense

A fit when…

You’re scaling AI

Pilots are working and you need senior ownership to take them to enterprise scale safely.

You can’t justify a full hire yet

You need the leadership and judgement now, but a $500K permanent role is premature.

The UAE mandate is pressing

You need to move on Agentic AI quickly and want experienced direction from day one.

Engagement model

Engagement tiers

Minimum 3-month commitment. Cancel with 30 days notice. Choose the level of involvement your stage of AI adoption needs.

Foundation
$8,000 / mo
~15 hours / month

Early-stage AI adoption. You need someone to build the roadmap and get things started.

Most popular
Growth
$12,000 / mo
~25 hours / month

Active AI deployment. Ongoing leadership to drive initiatives, manage vendors and ensure adoption.

Enterprise
$15,000 / mo
~35 hours / month

Full AI transformation. A dedicated AI leader without the $400K+ salary and 6-month recruitment.

Proven outcomes

Track record

12→33%
AI adoption lift
$1B+
Signed-off impact
8
Countries delivered
Frequently asked
What is a fractional Chief AI Officer (CAIO)?+
A fractional CAIO provides senior AI leadership on a part-time basis, typically 15–35 hours per month. They own your AI roadmap, governance, vendor coordination and adoption tracking at about 60% of the cost of a full-time hire, with no recruitment delay and monthly flexibility.
Fractional CAIO vs a full-time hire — which is right?+
A full-time CAIO costs $400K–$600K and months to recruit. A fractional leader gives you senior ownership immediately, on flexible terms — ideal while you scale AI and prove the value that may later justify a permanent role.
How quickly can you start?+
There is no recruitment cycle. Once we agree scope, I can step in within weeks and start owning the roadmap and governance.
Other fractional roles
Fractional CX Leader →Fractional CVM / Growth Leader →Fractional Chief Digital Officer →

Lead your AI agenda from day one

If you need senior AI ownership now but not a permanent hire yet, let’s talk about a fractional CAIO engagement.

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