Hire a Fractional CEO
A Fractional CEO steps into the top seat on a part-time or defined-term basis, carrying full accountability for strategy, the executive team and the P&L, without the twelve-month notice period or seven-figure package of a permanent appointment. Boards bring in a Fractional CEO to bridge a founder transition, stabilise a business through a difficult chapter, or provide seasoned leadership to a portfolio company while a permanent search runs in parallel.
Maestro connects organisations across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong with Fractional CEOs who have already run businesses of comparable scale, so the impact starts in the first fortnight rather than the first year.
What does a Fractional CEO do?
A Fractional CEO carries the same scope as a full-time chief executive: setting strategic direction, owning the P&L, leading the executive team, and representing the business to the board and investors. What changes is the time commitment, typically two to four days a week, and the term, usually six to eighteen months rather than an open-ended appointment. The role is not advisory.
A Fractional CEO makes the calls a CEO makes: who reports to whom, what gets funded, which markets to enter or exit, and how the business is positioned when the board or a buyer is in the room.
Best for
- Founder-led businesses navigating a leadership transition, where the founder is stepping back from day-to-day running but the business is not yet ready for a permanent external hire
- Private equity and venture-backed portfolio companies that need an experienced operator between a departed CEO and a permanent search
- Businesses preparing for sale, raising capital, or entering a new market, where board-level credibility matters immediately
- Organisations in a turnaround, where decisive, experienced leadership is needed for a defined period rather than indefinitely
Types of Fractional CEO engagements
Fractional CEO vs Interim CEO vs Full-time CEO
A Fractional CEO works part-time, typically two to four days a week, over a defined term, often while continuing to serve one or two other clients. This suits businesses that need senior leadership but not five days a week of it.
An Interim CEO works full-time for a defined period, usually to cover an unplanned gap between a departed CEO and a permanent appointment, or to lead a specific transformation programme. If your business needs someone in the seat five days a week starting immediately, an Interim CEO is the better fit. Maestro's Interim Executives hub covers this model in detail.
A full-time CEO is a permanent appointment, the right model once the business has reached a scale and stability where ongoing, five-day leadership is justified and a twelve-month search timeline is acceptable.
Fractional CEO availability by market
Australia
Explore Maestro in Australia
New Zealand
Explore Maestro in New Zealand
Singapore
Explore Maestro in Singapore
Hong Kong
Explore Maestro in Hong Kong
Fractional CEO: Impact Delivered
Stabilised leadership through a founder exit or unplanned departure, with continuity maintained across the executive team
Rebuilt investor and board confidence ahead of a capital raise or sale process
Led a market entry or expansion into a new country from strategy through to first revenue
Restructured an underperforming business, resetting cost base and direction within the first two quarters
Professionalised a founder-led team, introducing the governance and reporting a board or investor expects
Bridged a leadership gap with zero disruption to customers, staff or the board, while a permanent search ran in parallel
Signals it's time to hire a Fractional CEO
The board or investors are asking questions the current leadership team can't answer with confidence
A founder is ready to step back from day-to-day running, but the business isn't yet at the scale to justify a permanent external hire
Growth has outpaced the leadership team's experience, and the gap is starting to show in decisions, not just workload
A capital raise, sale process or board change is approaching and the business needs a credible, experienced figure in the seat before it starts
The previous CEO has departed and the board needs stability now, while a permanent search runs in parallel
Who this isn't right for
Related Fractional roles
Frequently Asked Questions - Fractional CEO
It depends on the market and the scope. Across Maestro's markets, retainers typically range from NZD/SGD $8,000 to AUD $25,000 per month, based on days engaged per week and the complexity of the mandate. See the market breakdown above for country-specific bands, or speak with the team for a scoped estimate.
A Fractional CEO works part-time over a defined term, typically alongside one or two other clients. An Interim CEO works full-time, usually to cover an unplanned gap or lead a specific transformation. See the comparison above, or visit Maestro's Interim Executives hub for the full-time model.
Maestro typically presents a shortlist of vetted candidates within days, not the months a traditional executive search takes, because every Fractional CEO in Maestro's network is already vetted before a brief comes in.
Most Fractional CEOs work with one or two clients at a time, dedicating two to four days a week to each. This is what keeps the model cost-effective while still delivering genuine board-level attention.
Often yes, particularly where a founder needs an experienced operator alongside them through a raise, a pivot, or the first phase of scaling, rather than someone to replace the founder outright.
Yes. Many engagements are structured this way deliberately, giving the board time to confirm fit before committing to a permanent appointment.
Hire a Fractional CEO now, or brief the team on what you need.
Unlock the right talent at the right time to drive your organisation's growth.