A fractional Chief AI Officer who builds, not just advises
Most companies under 200 people don't need a full-time Chief AI Officer. They need someone to own AI part-time, decide what to do first, and get it done.
When you need one
You probably need someone owning AI if:
- A few people use AI well, and nobody is responsible for the rest of the team.
- Different people pay for different AI tools, and nobody knows what's in use.
- You've had ideas for months but nothing is running.
- Someone built something useful, and it only works on their laptop.
None of these need a full-time executive. They need a person who can decide what to do first, build it, and leave the team able to run it.
What I'd own
- The short list. Which processes are worth handing to AI first, and which aren't ready.
- The rules. What AI is allowed to do at your company, who checks its work, and how keys and access are handled.
- The builds. One process at a time: defined with the team, built on your tools, tested on real work, handed over.
- The team. Training, a way to share what people build, and regular check-ins.
How it compares
| Option | Good at | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| A full-time Chief AI Officer | Full focus and deep ownership | Hard to justify for a team of 50 |
| Your CTO or ops lead, on top of their job | Knows your systems, no new hire | AI becomes the thing they get to on Fridays |
| Fractional, with me | Ownership plus hands-on building, part-time | One person, so it suits teams of 5 to 200 |
What it looked like at one company
At a 25-person marketing agency, I took on most of what this role covers: the shared AI setup, the rules for how changes get checked and shared, a client dashboard, and the training. AI went from two people to 22 teammates set up, with 16 shared team processes, most written by the team.
How we'd start
The same way as any engagement: one process, one team, a few weeks. If that goes well, we agree how much ongoing time makes sense.
Common questions
What does a fractional Chief AI Officer do?
Owns AI at a company part-time: decides what to do first, sets the rules for how AI is used, builds the first processes, and trains the team.
How is it different from an AI consultant?
Mostly duration and ownership. A consultant usually delivers a project. A fractional role keeps ownership of AI at the company over time.
What size company is this for?
Teams of 5 to 200 that want someone owning AI without a full-time executive hire.
How much time does it take?
It depends on the work. We start with one process, then agree how much ongoing time makes sense.