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/ 02 — Definition

What is a fractional CEO?

A fractional CEO is a chief executive officer who works part-time, on an ongoing basis, embedded inside one or two companies at a time. Real authority, real cadence, real accountability.

Topic: fractional CEO, fractional chief executive officer, part-time CEO

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/01Answer-first

So what is a fractional CEO, in one line?

A part-time, embedded chief executive who owns at least one P&L and the operating cadence, typically 1 to 3 days a week for 6 to 18 months.

A fractional CEO is not an advisor and not an interim. The role is ongoing and part-time, with the same decision authority a full-time CEO would have inside their scope. The company keeps its founder or owner in their role; the fractional CEO runs the operating system.

How is it different from a full-time CEO?

Same authority, fewer days, lower cost. The trade-off is focus: a fractional CEO covers what matters most, not everything.

Expect 8 to 24 working days a month, not 20+. The first 30 days set the priority list. Anything outside it gets delegated or deferred. A fractional CEO works on the business, not in every meeting.

Is a fractional CEO the same as an outsourced CEO or on-demand CEO?

Yes — fractional CEO, outsourced CEO, on-demand CEO and part-time CEO refer to the same model.

Terminology varies by market. In Italy and continental Europe the term "frazionale" is becoming standard for a part-time chief executive officer. In the US, fractional is most common. The model is identical: ongoing part-time chief executive leadership inside a single company.

How do I hire a fractional CEO in Italy?

Book a 30 minute intro call, run a 2 day paid scoping diagnostic, then start a 6 to 18 month retainer of 1 to 3 days per week.

Milan-based operator, available across Italy including Rome, plus the wider European market. Working languages: English, Italian, Swedish. Contracting is a straightforward services agreement with the operating company or, for PE portcos, with the sponsor.

What does a fractional chief executive officer do day to day?

Runs the weekly operating review, owns the KPI tree, hires and fires inside agreed scope, signs off on capital allocation up to a threshold, and prepares the monthly board pack.

The calendar is published on day one. Two or three fixed days a week, in office or on site, with the rest of the week reserved for board interface, hiring interviews and asynchronous work on the numbers.
/02Variants

The model in one paragraph.

/Time

1 to 3 days a week

8 to 24 days a month. Cadence agreed in week one. Calendar published.
/Length

6 to 18 months

Long enough to land structure. Short enough to enforce exit discipline.
/Scope

One P&L, one cadence

Owns at least one P&L line and the weekly operating cadence. Hires, fires, decides.
/03Next

Decide if it fits.

Ready to hire a fractional CEO, or still trying to find the right operating model? The next two pages help you decide before you hire.

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