Fractional Leadership Services
Senior leadership.
Calibrated to what you actually need.
Access experienced, senior-level professionals across the full C-suite — on a structured, part-time basis. The accountability and expertise of a full-time appointment, without the permanent overhead.
Why Businesses Engage Us
The situations that make fractional the right answer
I. The Role is Critical but the Hire isn't Justified Yet
You need a CFO, CCO, or CRO-level function in place — but your current stage does not warrant a full-time executive appointment and the salary, benefits, and commitment that comes with it.
II. A Regulator or Counterparty Requries a Named Individual
Licensing, onboarding, or governance requirements demand a named, accountable professional in a specific role. A fractional appointment satisfies that requirement immediately and credibly.
III. — There is a Gap in the Leadership Structure
A departure, transition, or growth period has left a function without senior oversight. The business cannot afford the gap, but a full recruitment process takes months.
IV. — The Business is Scaling Faster than its Governance
Revenue and operations are growing, but compliance, financial, legal, or people infrastructure has not kept pace. Fractional input closes that gap without waiting for headcount budgets to catch up.
The Model Explained
What does fractional actually mean?
Day 1
Operational from the outset
No FTE
No full-time cost or commitment
Named
One accountable senior lead
Scoped
Defined by what you need
A fractional professional holds a genuine senior role within your organisation — on a defined, part-time basis agreed at the outset. They are not a consultant brought in to produce a report and leave. They sit in the seat, carry the accountability, and operate as an integrated part of your leadership or governance structure.
The alternative — leaving a role unfilled or hiring a full-time senior executive before the business is ready — carries real cost and risk. Regulated firms in particular face the challenge of needing credible, experienced leadership in compliance and control functions from the outset, often before the revenue base justifies a permanent appointment.
Fractional solves that. It gives you the right person in the right role, with the accountability that regulators, investors, and partners expect, structured around your actual requirements, timeline, and budget.
Fees are discussed following an initial consultation and scoping call. Every engagement is defined before it begins.
An Important Distinction
Not a consultant.
Not a full-time hire.
Something more precise.
Consultant | CGI Fractional | Full-Time Executive |
|---|---|---|
Valuable for analysis, benchmarking, and strategy formation. | Senior-led throughout. One accountable lead, consistent standard of work, no delegation down. | The right answer eventually. Fractional bridges the gap until you are ready. |
Typically project-scoped with a broad remit and high-level framing. | Scoped precisely to your requirements — time, responsibilities, and deliverables agreed upfront. | Permanent commitment. Difficult and costly to unwind if the role or person is not the right fit. |
External to the organisation. No named accountability within your governance structure. | Sits inside your leadership or governance structure with defined reporting lines and authority. | Full employment cost — salary, benefits, visa, and severance obligations in full. |
Engagement ends when the deliverable is complete. Implementation sits with your team. | Executes within your business. Responsible for delivery, not just advice. | Recruitment takes 3–6 months. Onboarding adds further time before productive output begins. |
Provides recommendations and reports. Accountable for the output, not the outcome. | Carries genuine role accountability — named, documented, and governance-integrated from day one. | Full accountability and integration. The right model when scale and complexity justify it. |
How We Structure Engagement
Three ways to deploy fractional leadership
.
01
Single Role Appointment
One senior professional appointed to a specific function — MLRO, CFO, CCO, CRO, or any other role — with defined scope, time commitment, and reporting lines.
The most common starting point, targeted to the function where accountability is most urgently needed.
.
.
02
Paired Function Deployment
Two complementary roles engaged in parallel — for example CFO and CCO, or COO and CHRO — where a business is building out multiple functions simultaneously.
Coordinated through CGI to ensure the appointments work in alignment rather than in isolation.
.
.
03
Broader Leadership Mandate
A structured engagement across multiple functions, suited to businesses undergoing significant transition — a regulatory build-out, a post-acquisition integration, or a governance overhaul requiring coordinated senior leadership across several disciplines at once.
.
You are applying for a financial services licence and need a credible, named MLRO or CCO to satisfy the regulator.
Your CFO has left and you need experienced financial oversight immediately, without a six-month recruitment process.
Investors or lenders are asking questions about your governance structure that your current team cannot answer confidently.
You are operating across multiple jurisdictions and no single person in your team owns the compliance picture end-to-end.
A regulatory review, audit, or inspection is approaching and your current documentation or oversight is not ready.
You are scaling and know you need senior HR, legal, or risk leadership — but not yet on a full-time basis.
A key executive has signalled they are leaving and you need structured succession rather than a gap in accountability.
You need someone to own a function, not advise on it — with named accountability and a clear scope from day one.
Our Fractional Roles
The Disciplines we cover
Executive Leadership
.
CEO
Chief Executive Officer
A fractional CEO provides top-level executive leadership where a business needs strategic direction, stakeholder accountability, and operational authority without the commitment of a full-time appointment.
Suited to businesses in transition, post-investment scale-up phases, or where founding leadership needs an experienced counterpart to drive execution.
- Strategic direction and business leadership
- Board, investor, and stakeholder management
- Senior team alignment and performance oversight
- Growth strategy and market positioning
.
.
.
COO
Chief Operating Officer
A fractional COO brings operational discipline and delivery rigour to businesses where execution is the constraint.
Valuable when a founder or CEO needs a senior operator to translate strategy into process, manage cross-functional delivery, and build the infrastructure for sustainable growth.
- Operational design, process, and efficiency
- Cross-functional delivery and team coordination
- KPI frameworks and performance management
- Scaling infrastructure and vendor oversight
.
.
.
CFO
Chief Financial Officer
A fractional CFO provides the financial leadership, structure, and rigour that growing businesses and regulated firms need without the full-time overhead.
Particularly valuable during fundraising, restructuring, licensing, or periods of rapid growth where financial governance must scale ahead of headcount.
- Financial control, reporting, and forecasting
- Investor and lender relations
- Capital structure and treasury oversight
- Regulatory capital and liquidity management
.
.
.
CSO
Chief Strategy Officer
A fractional CSO brings structured strategic thinking to organisations navigating growth, diversification, or repositioning.
Where leadership teams are operationally strong but stretched on long-term planning, a fractional CSO provides the dedicated focus and analytical rigour to develop and drive strategy with clarity.
- Strategic planning, scenario analysis, and prioritisation
- Market entry, diversification, and competitive positioning
- M&A, partnership, and growth initiative evaluation
- Board-level strategy reporting and governance
.
.
.
CTO
Chief Transformation Officer
A fractional Chief Transformation Officer leads complex change programmes where pace, accountability, and cross-functional coordination are critical.
Common in scaling firms, restructuring businesses, or organisations navigating regulatory-driven change that requires dedicated senior leadership to land effectively.
- Transformation programme design and governance
- Change management and stakeholder alignment
- Workstream oversight and milestone accountability
- Cultural and operational transition management
.
.
.
CAO
Chief Administration Officer
A fractional CAO provides senior oversight of the administrative, governance, and operational infrastructure that underpins a well-run business.
Suited to firms that have scaled commercial activity faster than their back-office and governance functions, and need experienced leadership to close that gap.
- Administrative operations and governance infrastructure
- Entity management, secretarial, and corporate records
- Policy frameworks, documentation, and control environments
- Cross-functional coordination and reporting discipline
.
.
Commercial & Growth
.
CCO
Chief Commercial Officer
A fractional CCO provides senior commercial leadership for businesses seeking to accelerate revenue, sharpen go-to-market, or build the sales and partnership infrastructure needed to scale.
This role sits at the intersection of strategy and revenue delivery — distinct from the compliance CCO function.
- Commercial strategy, pricing, and market positioning
- Sales leadership and revenue pipeline oversight
- Partnership and distribution channel development
- Client proposition design and commercial governance
.
.
.
CPO
Chief Product Officer
A fractional CPO provides the product leadership and strategic direction that technology-driven and service businesses need as they scale.
Suited to firms where product development is a core value driver but where dedicated senior product leadership is not yet justified on a full-time basis.
- Product strategy, roadmap, and prioritisation
- Customer and market insight integration
- Cross-functional product delivery and team leadership
- Product-market fit, iteration, and lifecycle management
.
.
.
CXO
Chief Experience Officer / Chief Revenue Officer
A fractional CXO — whether focused on client experience or revenue accountability — provides senior leadership over how the business acquires, retains, and grows its customer relationships.
In service-led and regulated firms, experience and revenue are often inseparable, and this role bridges both.
- Client journey design and service experience oversight
- Revenue strategy, growth targets, and accountability
- Client retention, NPS, and feedback integration
- Commercial and experience alignment across functions
.
.
.
CCO
Chief Client Officer
Common in service-led, advisory, and financial businesses, a fractional Chief Client Officer places dedicated senior accountability over client relationships at the highest level.
Where retention, relationship depth, and service quality are the primary commercial levers, this role provides the focus they deserve.
- Senior client relationship oversight and escalation
- Client service standards, feedback, and resolution
- Retention strategy and lifetime value focus
- Cross-sell, deepening, and relationship governance
.
.
.
CIO
Chief Investment Officer
A fractional CIO provides investment leadership and oversight for firms managing assets, deploying capital, or building investment capability.
Suited to family offices, emerging managers, and regulated investment firms that require credible, senior investment governance without a full-time executive appointment.
- Investment strategy, asset allocation, and mandate oversight
- Portfolio construction, monitoring, and risk management
- Investment committee governance and reporting
- Manager selection, due diligence, and performance review
.
.
.
CLO
Chief Legal Officer / General Counsel
A fractional CLO or General Counsel provides senior in-house legal oversight for businesses that need experienced legal leadership without a full-time appointment.
Particularly valuable for regulated firms, businesses with cross-border activity, or organisations managing contract complexity, disputes, or structural change.
- Legal risk oversight and in-house counsel function
- Contract review, negotiation, and governance
- Regulatory legal advice and liaison support
- Corporate structuring, M&A, and transactional legal oversight
.
.
Compliance Risk & Legal
.
MLRO
Money Laundering Reporting Officer
The MLRO carries statutory accountability for AML/CFT compliance and is typically a required regulated function.
A fractional MLRO provides named, qualified oversight without the cost of a permanent senior hire — appropriate for firms at licensing stage, scaling operations, or bridging a vacancy.
- Regulatory liaison and Suspicious Activity Reporting
- AML policy ownership and annual review
- Staff training and escalation framework
- Regulator-ready documentation and audit support
.
.
.
CCO
Chief Compliance Officer
The CCO owns the firm's compliance framework end-to-end, providing the second line of defence between business activity and regulatory exposure.
A fractional CCO brings the strategic and operational depth of a seasoned compliance leader, available on the terms your growth stage demands.
- Compliance programme design and oversight
- Board and senior management reporting
- Regulatory change management
- Conduct, culture, and policy governance
.
.
.
CO
Compliance Officer
Where a full CCO function is not yet required, or where specialist compliance resource is needed alongside existing teams, a fractional Compliance Officer provides hands-on day-to-day oversight, calibrated to the complexity and jurisdiction of your business with clear deliverables agreed upfront.
- Policy drafting, maintenance, and gap analysis
- KYC/CDD oversight and escalation
- Monitoring programme execution
- Regulatory submission and correspondence support
.
.
.
CRO
Chief Risk Officer
A fractional CRO embeds risk discipline into your operating model without the cost of a permanent executive.
Suited to firms building out risk frameworks for the first time, seeking independent risk challenge, or navigating a period of elevated operational or regulatory risk.
- Risk appetite framework and governance
- Risk register design and monitoring
- Board-level risk reporting
- Operational resilience and business continuity oversight
.
.
People & Talent
.
CHRO
Chief Human Resources Officer
A fractional CHRO brings senior people leadership to organisations that are scaling, restructuring, or building HR infrastructure for the first time.
From culture and talent strategy through to employment frameworks and compliance, a fractional CHRO provides the oversight and execution capacity that growing businesses need without the cost of a permanent executive appointment.
- People strategy, culture, and organisational design
- HR policy, employment frameworks, and compliance
- Talent acquisition, retention, and performance oversight
- Leadership development and succession planning
.
.
Why CGI?
The case for fractional leadership through CGI
.
01
Execution Not Advice
Our fractional professionals do not deliver reports and leave.
They carry named accountability, sit inside your governance structure, and are responsible for outcomes — not just recommendations.
.
.
02
Right-Sized from Day One
Engage senior expertise precisely calibrated to your current requirements.
Scale the commitment up or back as your business evolves, without the friction of a full employment cycle.
.
.
03
Regulator-Ready Accountability
Named, qualified professionals carrying genuine accountability.
The kind of documented, credible oversight that regulators, auditors, and counterparties expect — and can rely on.
.
.
04
Senior Experience, Not a Junior Proxy
Every fractional appointment is made at the level the role demands.
You are not paying for a senior name with junior execution. Accountability sits where it should — at the top of the function.
.
.
05
Cross-Jurisdictional Depth
We operate across the UAE, UK, Switzerland, Singapore, and other international centres.
Fractional leadership is available where your firm is domiciled, licensed, or operating.
.
.
06
Discreet by Nature
Confidentiality is standard across all CGI engagements, including fractional appointments.
Supported by our own internal compliance function and written engagement terms as standard.
.
How We Engage
From first contact to active role
01
Initial Contact
A focused conversation to understand your business, the role required, current gaps, and the regulatory or commercial context driving the need. No obligation, and structured to be useful regardless of next steps.
02
Scoping and Proposal
We define the role clearly — responsibilities, time commitment, reporting lines, deliverables, and fee structure — before anything is agreed. Nothing begins without a written scope both parties have confirmed.
03
Engagement and Onboarding
Once terms are agreed, we move quickly. The professional is integrated into your governance structure with appropriate documentation, introductions, and a defined first-90-day plan in place.
04
Active and Accountable
The fractional professional operates within your business with defined cadence and milestones. Progress is tracked and reported, with a single senior point of accountability throughout the engagement.
Common Questions
What people ask before engaging
.
Is a fractional professional the same as a consultant?
No. A consultant provides advice and recommendations — their accountability ends with the deliverable. A fractional professional holds a named role inside your business, carries genuine functional accountability, and is responsible for execution and outcomes. The distinction matters, particularly in regulated environments where named accountability is required.
.
.
Can a fractional MLRO or CCO satisfy a regulator's requirements?
Yes, in most cases, subject to the specific requirements of the relevant regulator and jurisdiction. Fractional appointments are increasingly common in regulated firms, particularly at licensing stage or where a permanent appointment is not yet warranted. We confirm suitability for your specific regulatory context during the scoping process.
.
.
How much time does a fractional professional commit?
Time commitment is defined during scoping and varies by role, function complexity, and business need. Engagements typically range from a defined number of days per month through to a structured weekly presence. The commitment is agreed in writing before the engagement begins and can be adjusted as requirements evolve.
.
.
How quickly can an engagement begin?
Once scope is agreed and terms are in place, most engagements can be operational within one to two weeks. Where there is defined urgency — a regulatory deadline, an imminent audit, or a departure — we structure accordingly. Speed of deployment is one of the primary advantages of the fractional model over a full recruitment process.
.
.
What happens when the engagement ends?
Every CGI engagement closes with a structured handover — documented actions, evidence of completion, and next-step direction where appropriate. If the role is transitioning to a permanent hire, we support that process. Nothing is left open. Clean closure is a standard part of how we operate.
.
.
Can we engage more than one fractional role at the same time?
Yes. Some businesses engage two or more fractional roles simultaneously — typically where a scale-up, regulatory build-out, or post-acquisition integration requires coordinated leadership across multiple functions. We structure these engagements to work in alignment, with clear interface points and shared reporting lines where relevant.
.
Fee Structure
Structured around your requirement
What shapes the fee?
Fees for fractional engagements are not fixed to a published schedule. The scope, time commitment, regulatory complexity, and jurisdictional requirements of each appointment vary meaningfully, and pricing should reflect that accurately.
We discuss fees openly following an initial consultation and scoping session. Once scope is agreed, we provide a clear, written fee proposal before any engagement begins. There are no surprises.
The initial consultation is the right starting point. It costs nothing and gives both parties the information needed to structure something workable.
Time commitment required — days per month, meeting cadence, and availability expectations.
Role seniority and regulatory accountability — named regulated functions carry additional responsibility.
Jurisdictional complexity — multi-jurisdictional engagements or cross-border regulatory requirements.
Scope definition — a tightly scoped bridging role differs from a full fractional function build-out.
Exceptional workstreams such as regulatory remediation, licensing applications, or urgent appointments can be agreed separately to keep the retainer clean and predictable.
You are scaling and know you need senior HR, legal, or risk leadership — but not yet on a full-time basis.
A key executive has signalled they are leaving and you need structured succession rather than a gap in accountability.
You need someone to own a function, not advise on it — with named accountability and a clear scope from day one.