What is a Fractional CDO (Chief Data Officer)?
A Fractional Chief Data Officer is an experienced data executive who works part-time across multiple organisations, providing strategic data leadership to build data platforms, implement governance, and drive data-driven decision-making.
The Fractional CDO Role
Fractional CDOs typically work 1-3 days per week, providing senior data leadership for companies investing in data capabilities without the £200-350k cost of a permanent data executive.
Key CDO Responsibilities
Data Strategy: Enterprise data vision, architecture, and roadmap
Data Governance: Quality, cataloguing, lineage, and access management
Analytics & AI: Advanced analytics and machine learning programmes
Data Platform: Modern data stack selection and implementation
Compliance: GDPR↗, data ethics, and regulatory data requirements
Who Needs a Fractional CDO?
Companies building their first enterprise data platform
Organisations preparing for AI/ML initiatives needing data foundations
Regulated businesses needing data governance frameworks
Companies wanting to become genuinely data-driven in decision-making
