Fractional Chief AI Officer
Most enterprises know they need AI leadership. Few can justify a $400K+ full-time hire before they know what AI looks like in their organisation.
A Fractional CAIO gives you senior AI strategy, governance, and transformation leadership — on the days you need it, without the full-time commitment. You get a leader who has built AI products, led enterprise transformation, and understands both the technology and the organisational change required to make AI work.
How It Works
AI Readiness Sprint
2 weeks
- AI maturity assessment across all business functions
- Technology landscape evaluation
- AI Game Plan with prioritised use cases
- Board-ready presentation deck
- Quick-win identification (30-day implementable)
Best for: Companies exploring AI, pre-board presentations, new CEO/CTO wanting an AI baseline
Fractional CAIO — Standard
3 days/month
- AI strategy development and refinement
- Governance framework design
- Vendor evaluation and oversight
- Pilot project management
- Monthly progress reporting to leadership
Best for: Mid-market companies ($5M-$500M) beginning their AI transformation
Fractional CAIO — Enterprise
5 days/month
- Full strategic scope including board reporting
- AI operating model and team design
- Regulatory readiness (EU AI Act, sector-specific)
- Cross-functional AI governance board
- Successor CAIO recruitment and transition planning
Best for: Large enterprises needing comprehensive AI leadership before hiring full-time
Quarterly Advisory
1 half-day/quarter
- Quarterly strategy review
- Board preparation support
- On-call advisory via email/Teams/Slack
- Annual AI roadmap refresh
Best for: Post-engagement taper, companies with internal AI leads needing senior counsel
The 180-Day Engagement
A structured path from charter to transition, designed to deliver measurable AI outcomes and build lasting organisational capability.
Charter & Flash Findings
Signed engagement charter. Access to systems, people, data. Flash Findings memo identifying immediate risks and quick wins.
AI Audit & Game Plan
Intensive audit across business functions. Interviews with CXO team. One-Page AI Game Plan with prioritised use cases, estimated ROI, and resource requirements. First quick win implemented.
Pilot Projects & Governance
Pilot projects launched. AI governance framework established. Vendor selection and contract negotiation. KPI dashboards deployed. Monthly board-ready reports.
Scale, Regulate, Transition
Successful pilots scaled across business units. Regulatory readiness assessment. Internal AI team development. Successor CAIO recruitment support. Stay/Scale/Sunset recommendation.
Quarterly Advisory
Transition to quarterly check-ins. Annual roadmap refresh. On-call advisory for board meetings and strategic decisions.
Who This Is For
Mid-market companies ($5M-$500M)
Large enough to benefit from AI, not yet ready for a $400K+ full-time hire
Enterprises with stalled AI pilots
You've invested in proofs of concept but haven't captured returns across the organisation
Boards needing AI governance
EU AI Act, sector-specific regulation, and investor scrutiny are making AI governance non-optional
Companies hiring their first CAIO
You need interim leadership while recruiting, plus a framework for the permanent hire to inherit
Industries
Transformation and AI product experience across:
Clients have included Walmart, Unilever, Burger King, TATA Group, VF Corporation (Lee, Wrangler, The North Face, Timberland), Coca-Cola, Starbucks, AirAsia, CVS, and others.
Let's Talk
The first conversation is exploratory — no commitment, no pitch deck. We'll discuss where AI fits in your organisation and whether a fractional CAIO engagement makes sense.
Or email directly: arul@agentledgrowth.com