Fractional CMO for Paid Media
Performance marketing leadership that drives growth
Key Takeaways
- 1Fractional CMOs work 1-3 days per week, providing senior expertise without full-time costs
- 2UK day rates range from £750 to £1400, 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
Strategic Paid Media Leadership
Paid media requires more than tactical execution—it needs strategic vision to align channels, budgets, and goals. A fractional CMO with performance marketing expertise builds sustainable acquisition engines while optimizing for efficiency.
Channel Strategy & Mix
Google, Meta, LinkedIn, programmatic—which channels deserve investment? Your fractional CMO evaluates options, tests systematically, and allocates budget where it drives the best returns.
Attribution & Measurement
In a privacy-first world, attribution is complex. Your fractional CMO implements measurement frameworks that provide actionable insights despite tracking limitations.
Team & Agency Management
Whether building an in-house team or managing agencies, your fractional CMO brings experience structuring relationships and holding partners accountable to results.
Cost Comparison
Fractional vs Full-Time Executive
Your Potential Savings
£164k+
Time Allocation
How fractional executives spend their time
UK Fractional Executive Day Rates
Compare day rates across C-suite roles
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
Calculate Your Potential Income
Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CMO UK average day rate: £900.
BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.
Related Executive Roles
Complementary leadership for your organisation
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know
Specialist fractional executives combine senior leadership capability with deep domain expertise. They've typically spent years in a specific area (e.g., fintech, DevOps, PE-backed companies) and bring pattern recognition that generalists lack.
Industry Resources & Authority Links
Related Pages
The Fractional Executive Trend
Industry data on the rise of fractional leadership
of executives who moved to fractional work report higher job satisfaction
Source: Harvard Business Review ↗Platform Stats
Founder's background
📊 CMO Market Snapshot
💰 CMO Day Rates
Based on 2026 market data for UK CMO roles.
