Interim Marketing Director UK
Expert guide to temporary marketing leadership — when to hire, day rates, and finding the right interim marketing director for your business
Find Your Perfect Match
Answer 3 questions in 30 seconds
What type of CTO do you need?
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
What is an Interim Marketing Director?
An interim marketing director is a senior marketing professional engaged on a temporary, full-time basis to lead marketing strategy and execution during periods of transition, transformation, or rapid growth. Unlike fractional CMOs who work part-time across multiple clients, interim marketing directors typically work 4-5 days per week exclusively for one organisation for a defined period — usually 3-12 months. Interim marketing directors are brought in when organisations need experienced marketing leadership immediately: to cover a departing CMO, lead a rebrand, launch a new product line, or transform an underperforming marketing function. They bring cross-industry experience and can deliver results quickly without the lengthy recruitment process a permanent hire requires.
When Should You Hire an Interim Marketing Director?
Leadership Vacancy
Your marketing director or CMO has left, and you need experienced cover while recruiting a permanent replacement.
Rebrand or Repositioning
You are undertaking a major brand transformation requiring dedicated strategic leadership and execution capability.
Product Launch
A critical product or market launch requires intensive marketing leadership that your current team cannot deliver alone.
Turnaround Required
Marketing performance is underperforming — leads are down, brand awareness is declining, or ROI is poor.
Scale-Up Phase
You are scaling rapidly and need experienced marketing leadership to build the team and processes for growth.
PE/VC Investment
New investors require enhanced marketing capability and experienced leadership to hit growth targets.
Interim marketing director day rates in the UK typically range from £850-1,300 depending on seniority, sector, and specialism. Most engagements are 4-5 days per week, translating to monthly costs of £17,000-28,000.
Day rates and demand for interim marketing directors vary by sector and specialism:
Cost Comparison
Fractional vs Full-Time Executive
Your Potential Savings
£180k+
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. 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.
Related Executive Roles
Complementary leadership for your organisation
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know
Interim marketing director day rates in the UK range from £850-1,300 depending on seniority and sector. Most work 4-5 days per week, translating to monthly costs of £17,000-28,000. This compares to a permanent marketing director salary of £100,000-150,000 plus benefits.
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
📊 CTO Market Snapshot
💰 CTO Day Rates
Based on 2026 market data for UK CTO roles.
