This Year is Different: fractional CXOs weigh in on their changing roles in 2025

We're just three weeks into the new year, and AI's newest developments, the second arrival of the Trump Administration armed with dozens of impactful executive orders, and even RTO not yet sorting itself out, have business leaders wide awake. Companies trying to swim with the current are grasping for creative efficiencies, giving rise to fractional c-suite roles where they can acquire fresh talent and ideas without the commitment of a full-time role.

We caught up with CXOs and some leading management consultants working to find fractional leadership to discuss what is changing the process for bringing on new executives.

Cost-effective expertise: "Fractional hires will be increasingly important in 2025 as organizations look for cost-effective, flexible expertise without long-term commitments," says Van Murray, Managing Partner and Fractional CIO at Aeolus. "This hybrid approach ensures continuity while meeting immediate and future needs."

Strategic value vs. temporary fix: While some view fractional roles as stopgap measures, others see them as integral to long-term strategy. "The experiences fractional hires gain by working with a diverse client set allows them to be a specialist while still bringing a generalist perspective amongst that specialty. It's a very unique role that creates value for companies in multiple ways," says Brandon Cobb, Fractional CMO of Marketingexec

Challenges to the model: Others warn against oversimplifying the approach. "The term 'fractional' has become somewhat of a buzzword," cautions AJ Cheponis, Chief Solutions Officer for Straightline Consulting Group. He counters that companies might find executives "quickly become disengaged with only a few hours of 'actual' work each week."

Future outlook: The demand for fractional executives is expected to grow. "As business owners approach retirement and seek to optimize their operations, a fractional CMO emerges as an ideal solution for businesses seeking skilled business acumen without the financial constraints or operational requirements associated with a full-time role," explains Michael Larmon, Fractional CMO for White City Consulting Group. While the model isn't suitable for every organization, Cobb sees the role as a positive step for offering “more flexibility and leanness for companies, while the fractional executive brings a unique knowledge and skill set that can spark innovation.”