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    FRACTIONAL CAIO

    SENIOR AI LEADERSHIP
    WITHOUT THE FULL-TIME COST

    A Fractional Chief AI Officer (CAIO) is a senior AI executive who works part-time with your organisation - typically 1-4 days per week. You get enterprise-level AI leadership, strategy, and implementation oversight without committing to a £200,000+ full-time hire.

    Whether you're exploring AI for the first time, stuck in pilot purgatory, or ready to scale - a Fractional CAIO provides the expertise and accountability to move forward with confidence.

    Book a Discovery CallSee Our Process
    From £2k/month
    20+ years enterprise experience
    Microsoft, Comcast, Elsevier

    WHY SMEs CHOOSE FRACTIONAL

    Get senior AI leadership at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire

    Full-Time CAIO
    £200,000+
    Per year + benefits
    VS
    Fractional CAIO
    From £2,000
    Per month, scale as needed

    Cost-Effective

    Access senior AI leadership from £2k/month instead of £200k+ for a full-time hire. Pay only for the time you need.

    Flexible Commitment

    Scale engagement up or down as your needs evolve. No long-term contracts or permanent headcount commitment.

    Immediate Expertise

    Skip the 6-month recruitment process. Start with a senior AI leader who can deliver from day one.

    Enterprise Experience

    Benefit from experience at Microsoft, Comcast, and Elsevier without enterprise-level budgets.

    Knowledge Transfer

    Build internal AI capability. Your team learns from an expert while working alongside them.

    Reduced Risk

    Test AI leadership fit before committing to a full-time hire. Exit gracefully if needs change.

    WHAT A FRACTIONAL CAIO DOES

    Erik's proven 3-stage methodology takes you from AI-curious to AI-powered

    Stage 01

    AI Literacy & Fluency

    Build confidence before committing capital

    Executive briefings and team workshops to build AI understanding across your organisation. Your leadership team learns to evaluate AI opportunities critically.

    Duration: 2-4 weeks
    Key Deliverables
    • Executive AI education sessions
    • Team capability assessments
    • Initial use case discovery (20-30 opportunities)
    • AI competency roadmap
    Stage 02

    AI Strategy & Planning

    Strategy before scale

    Develop a board-ready AI strategy with prioritised use cases, ROI models, governance frameworks, and a 3-year implementation roadmap.

    Duration: 4-8 weeks
    Key Deliverables
    • Prioritised use case portfolio
    • 3-year AI roadmap with budget estimates
    • Governance framework (ISO 42001, NIST)
    • Board presentation materials
    Stage 03

    Implementation & Scale

    Build fast, learn fast

    Rapid prototyping to validate approaches, production deployment, and team training. No pilot purgatory - just working solutions that deliver measurable value.

    Duration: 8-16 weeks per initiative
    Key Deliverables
    • Working proof-of-concept (2-4 weeks)
    • Production deployment with monitoring
    • Team training and knowledge transfer
    • Ongoing performance optimisation
    Learn More About Our Process

    HOW ENGAGEMENTS WORK

    Flexible engagement models designed around your needs

    Project-Based

    Focused engagement for a specific AI initiative - from strategy development to implementation.

    Timeline
    2-4 months
    Best For
    Organisations with a clear AI challenge or opportunity

    Retainer

    Ongoing fractional leadership with a set number of days per month. Strategic guidance plus hands-on support.

    Timeline
    6-12+ months
    Best For
    Growing companies building AI as a core capability

    Advisory

    Light-touch monthly advisory for strategic guidance, board presentations, and critical decisions.

    Timeline
    Ongoing
    Best For
    Organisations needing periodic senior input
    View All Pricing Options

    WHAT YOU LEAVE WITH

    Tangible outcomes from your Fractional CAIO engagement

    Board-Ready AI Strategy

    A clear, quantified AI roadmap your board can approve with confidence.

    Governance & Compliance

    AI governance framework aligned with ISO 42001, NIST AI RMF, or EU AI Act requirements.

    Working AI Solutions

    Proof-of-concepts that become production systems, not pilots that gather dust.

    AI-Confident Team

    Leadership and staff who understand AI and can evaluate opportunities independently.

    Measurable ROI

    Clear metrics showing AI impact on efficiency, revenue, or cost reduction.

    Internal Capability

    Knowledge transfer that lets your team own and evolve AI capabilities.

    Download the Fractional CAIO Guide

    Learn more about how a Fractional Chief AI Officer can transform your organisation

    Download PDF (Free)

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    What is a Fractional Chief AI Officer (CAIO)?

    A Fractional CAIO is a senior AI executive who works part-time with your organisation, providing strategic AI leadership without the cost of a full-time hire. They bring enterprise-level expertise to help you build AI capabilities, develop strategy, and oversee implementation - typically working 1-4 days per week depending on your needs.

    How much does a Fractional CAIO cost compared to a full-time hire?

    A full-time Chief AI Officer in the UK typically commands a salary of £200,000+ plus benefits, equity, and recruitment costs. A Fractional CAIO engagement starts from around £2,000-£5,000 per month, giving you access to senior expertise at a fraction of the cost. You only pay for the time you need.

    What does a Fractional CAIO actually do?

    A Fractional CAIO provides strategic AI leadership including: developing your AI strategy and roadmap, evaluating and selecting AI technologies, building AI governance frameworks, mentoring your team, presenting to your board, overseeing implementation projects, and ensuring your AI initiatives deliver measurable ROI.

    How do I know if my business needs a Fractional CAIO?

    You likely need a Fractional CAIO if: you're exploring AI but lack internal expertise, you have AI initiatives that aren't delivering results, your competitors are pulling ahead with AI, your leadership team lacks confidence evaluating AI proposals, or you need board-level AI guidance without a full-time executive.

    What's the difference between a Fractional CAIO and an AI consultant?

    An AI consultant typically delivers a specific project or recommendation and leaves. A Fractional CAIO becomes part of your leadership team - they own outcomes, build internal capabilities, and stay engaged to ensure success. They're accountable for results, not just deliverables.

    How long does a typical Fractional CAIO engagement last?

    Engagements typically range from 6-12 months, though many clients continue longer as their AI capabilities mature. The goal is to build internal capability so you can eventually operate independently, or scale up to a full-time hire when ready.

    Can a Fractional CAIO work remotely?

    Yes. While some on-site presence is valuable for workshops and key meetings, most Fractional CAIO work can be done remotely. This makes it practical for organisations across the UK and internationally.

    What industries do you work with?

    Erik works with SMEs and mid-market companies across professional services, healthcare, financial services, retail, manufacturing, and technology sectors. The 3-stage methodology (Literacy, Strategy, Implementation) adapts to any industry context.

    EXPLORE RELATED TOPICS

    AI Literacy AI Strategy AI Governance AI Implementation Use Cases

    READY TO EXPLORE FRACTIONAL AI LEADERSHIP?

    Book a free 30-minute discovery call to discuss your AI challenges and explore whether a Fractional CAIO is the right fit for your organisation.

    Book Your Free Discovery Call

    No commitment required • 30 minutes • Practical guidance