What is the difference between CDO and CIO

The CDO focuses on digital transformation and customer experience while the CIO manages IT infrastructure.

How much does a fractional CDO cost

Fractional CDOs typically charge 1000-1600 GBP per day.

What is the difference between CDO and CIO

The CDO focuses on digital transformation and customer experience while the CIO manages IT infrastructure.

How much does a fractional CDO cost

Fractional CDOs typically charge 1000-1600 GBP per day.

Digital

What is a Fractional CDO?

Chief Digital Officer role and when to hire fractional digital leadership

£800-2,000

Day Rate

2-6 weeks

Time to Hire

50-70%

Cost Savings

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Key Takeaways

1Fractional CFOs work 1-3 days per week, providing senior expertise without full-time costs
2UK day rates range from £800 to £1500, depending on experience and sector
3Typical engagements save 50-70% compared to full-time executive hires
4Ideal for startups, scale-ups, and SMEs needing strategic leadership
5No employment overhead: no pension, NI, benefits, or notice periods

Latest Fractional Jobs

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Chief Digital Officer Definition

Quick Definition

A Chief Digital Officer CDO oversees the digital transformation of an organization to drive growth. They ensure smooth transition of business processes from traditional systems to digital ones reflecting business strategy and customer experience.

What Does a Chief Digital Officer Do

According to Splunk the CDO is responsible for creating digital strategy establishing online presence developing customer-facing digital solutions and implementing digital technologies. They work with departments to bring digital transformation plans to life and ensure alignment with overall business strategy.

CDO Key Responsibilities

Area	Responsibility	Impact
Strategy	Create digital roadmap	Business growth
Transformation	Lead digital change	Modernization
Customer	Digital experience	Engagement
Innovation	Drive digital initiatives	Competitive advantage

When to Hire a Fractional CDO

A fractional CDO is ideal for organizations beginning digital transformation without full-time overhead. Companies needing digital strategy benefit from experienced guidance. Organizations modernizing legacy systems can accelerate with fractional expertise.

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Cost Comparison

Fractional vs Full-Time Executive

Full-Time Executive£286k/year

Salary + Benefits + Overhead

Fractional Executive£106k/year

1-2 days/week average

Your Potential Savings

£180k+

63%

saved

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Time Allocation

How fractional executives spend their time

Strategy30%

Operations25%

Leadership20%

Governance15%

Technology10%

What is a Fractional CDO (Chief Digital Officer)?

A Fractional Chief Digital Officer is an experienced digital transformation executive who works part-time across multiple organisations, leading digital strategy, technology modernisation, and digital-first customer experience initiatives.

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The Fractional CDO Role

Fractional CDOs typically work 2-3 days per week, providing senior digital leadership for companies undergoing digital transformation without the £200-350k cost of a permanent digital executive.

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Key CDO Responsibilities

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Digital Strategy: Digital transformation vision, roadmap, and governance

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Customer Experience: Digital-first customer journeys and touchpoints

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Technology Modernisation: Legacy system migration and cloud adoption

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Data & Analytics: Data-driven decision-making and insight platforms

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Digital Culture: Organisational digital capability and adoption

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Who Needs a Fractional CDO?

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Traditional businesses needing digital transformation leadership

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Companies modernising legacy systems and customer experiences

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Organisations building digital products and services

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Businesses where digital is becoming the primary customer channel

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CDO Salary Guide

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Hire a Fractional CDO

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Fractional CTO Jobs UK

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CIO Salary Guide

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UK Fractional Jobs

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Fractional Recruitment Agency

UK Fractional Executive Day Rates

Compare day rates across C-suite roles

CFOThis Role£800 - £1500/day

£1100

CTO£900 - £1600/day

£1200

CMO£750 - £1400/day

£1000

COO£800 - £1400/day

£1050

CDO£900 - £1450/day

£1150

CISO£900 - £1550/day

£1200

Rate Range

Average

Source: UK Market Data 2025

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Fractional vs Interim vs Full-Time

Choose the right engagement model

Aspect	Fractional	Interim	Full-Time
Time Commitment	1-3 days/week	4-5 days/week	5 days/week
Duration	Ongoing/flexible	3-12 months	Permanent
Annual Cost	£50-150k	£150-300k	£200-400k+
Best For	SMEs, startups, scale-ups	Crisis, transitions	Large enterprises
Flexibility	★★★ High	★★☆ Medium	★☆☆ Low

Costs are indicative UK market rates. Actual costs vary by role, experience, and sector.

Calculate Your Day Rate

Fractional CFO Earnings

Calculate Your Potential Income

Your Day Rate

£1,000

£750Avg: £1000£1500

Days Per Client/Week

2.5 days

1 day5 days

Number of Clients

2 clients

Weekly

£5,000

Monthly

£21,650

Annual

£240,000

Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CFO UK average day rate: £1000.

BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.

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