What is a fractional CMO?

A fractional CMO is a senior marketing executive who provides strategic leadership on a part-time or contract basis, giving businesses enterprise-grade marketing capability without the full-time salary.

How does GRPL's fractional CMO service work?

GRPL embeds senior growth leadership into your business on a flexible basis. We define strategy, align teams, optimise channels, and drive measurable growth outcomes - all without the cost and commitment of a full-time executive hire.

Who is GRPL's service designed for?

GRPL works with founders, CEOs, and leadership teams at scaling ANZ businesses who need senior marketing expertise but aren't ready for or don't need a full-time CMO.

What's the difference between a fractional CMO and a marketing consultant?

A marketing consultant typically advises from the outside. A fractional CMO from GRPL embeds into your leadership team, owns strategy and execution, leads your marketing function, and is accountable for growth outcomes.

How quickly can an interim CMO start?

GRPL can typically have an interim CMO operational within 1-2 weeks of agreement. The rapid assessment phase begins immediately, and team leadership is established in the first week. This is one of the key advantages of the interim model over recruitment - a permanent CMO hire takes 3-6 months; an interim CMO starts in days.

How long does a typical interim CMO engagement last?

Most engagements run 3-6 months, aligned with the typical timeframe to recruit a permanent CMO. Some engagements extend to 9-12 months if the recruitment process takes longer or if the business decides to transition to an ongoing fractional CMO model. GRPL is flexible and works to the timeline the business needs.

Will the interim CMO make major changes to our marketing strategy?

The primary mandate is continuity - ensuring the existing strategy continues to execute and the marketing function remains productive. However, if the assessment reveals that the existing strategy is fundamentally flawed or that urgent changes are needed, the interim CMO will recommend and implement changes with CEO approval. The goal is to leave the function stronger than they found it.

Can the interim CMO help with the permanent CMO recruitment?

Yes. GRPL can advise on the role specification, participate in candidate evaluation, and help assess whether candidates have the strategic capability the business needs. This is a natural extension of the interim role - the interim CMO understands the business deeply and can provide informed perspective on what the permanent hire needs to deliver.

What if we decide we do not need a full-time CMO after all?

This happens more often than you might expect. Sometimes the interim engagement demonstrates that a fractional CMO model is actually the better long-term solution. If this is the case, GRPL can transition the engagement from interim to ongoing fractional CMO seamlessly - the same leader, the same strategic context, just a different engagement model.

Is this more expensive than a fractional CMO?

Yes - interim CMO engagements are typically $15,000-$22,000 per month compared to $7,000-$17,000 for fractional CMO. The premium reflects the higher intensity (3-4 days per week vs 1-3 days), the urgency of the engagement, and the near-full-time executive presence required. However, it is substantially less expensive than the fully loaded cost of a full-time CMO ($300,000-$450,000 per year).

What industries does GRPL's interim CMO service cover?

GRPL provides interim CMO services across B2B SaaS, professional services, technology, financial services, construction, and high-growth consumer businesses in Australia and New Zealand. The key requirement is a business with meaningful marketing activity that needs senior leadership to continue functioning during the transition.

Interim CMO

Keep Strategy Moving While You Hire the Right Leader

Your CMO has resigned. Or been made redundant. Or the business has reached the point where you need a senior marketing leader for the first time and the recruitment process is going to take 3-6 months. In the meantime, campaigns stall, agencies drift without direction, the marketing team loses confidence, and the CEO gets dragged back into making marketing decisions they had finally stopped making.

The cost of a marketing leadership vacuum is not just lost productivity - it is lost momentum. Competitors do not pause while you recruit. Customers do not wait. Pipeline does not build itself. The average time to hire a permanent CMO in Australia is 90-120 days. In a competitive market, it can stretch to 6 months or longer. GRPL's Interim CMO service fills this gap immediately - keeping strategy on track, teams productive, and growth moving forward while you find the right permanent leader.

What an Interim CMO Does

This is not a caretaker role. GRPL's interim CMOs operate with full executive authority from day one:

Maintains Strategic Continuity

Reviews the existing marketing strategy and ensures execution continues against plan. If the departing CMO left a solid strategy, the interim CMO sustains it. If the strategy was weak or unclear, the interim CMO strengthens it.

Leads the Marketing Team

Steps into the team leadership role immediately. Runs weekly team meetings, provides campaign direction, resolves blockers, and maintains team morale and productivity.

Manages Agency & Vendor Relationships

Agencies need a strategic counterpart on the client side. The interim CMO manages all agency and vendor relationships, ensuring work continues to plan and spend is managed responsibly.

Reports to the CEO & Board

Takes over marketing reporting to the CEO, board, and investors. Presents performance data, strategic updates, and recommendations with the credibility and authority expected at the executive level.

Protects Pipeline & Revenue

Ensures the marketing engine continues to generate leads, nurture prospects, and support sales during the transition. Revenue impact from a leadership vacuum typically appears 3-6 months later - the interim CMO prevents this.

Prepares the Ground for the Permanent Hire

Actively improves the marketing function so the incoming permanent CMO inherits a strong foundation. This includes documenting strategy, strengthening measurement, upskilling the team, and resolving outstanding issues.

When You Need an Interim CMO

Sudden Departure

Your CMO has resigned, been made redundant, or is on extended leave. The business needs immediate marketing leadership.

First CMO Hire

The business is hiring its first senior marketing leader but the recruitment process will take months.

Performance Exit

You have removed an underperforming CMO and need someone to stabilise the marketing function and prepare the ground for a stronger permanent hire.

M&A or Restructure

The business is going through a merger, acquisition, or restructure that requires experienced marketing leadership to manage the transition.

Parental Leave or Extended Absence

Your marketing leader is on parental leave or an extended absence and the business cannot afford to operate without senior marketing leadership.

How the Interim CMO Engagement Works

Week 1

Rapid Assessment

GRPL's interim CMO conducts a rapid assessment of the marketing function: current strategy, team capability, agency relationships, campaign status, pipeline health, and technology stack. By the end of week 1, they have a clear understanding and a 30-day stabilisation plan.

Weeks 2-4

Stabilisation

Execute the stabilisation plan. Ensure campaigns continue running, agencies have direction, the team has leadership, and the CEO has reporting. Address urgent issues. Establish the operating rhythm.

Month 2+

Leadership & Improvement

With stability established, the interim CMO shifts focus to strengthening the marketing function: improving measurement, reallocating budget, upskilling team members, and addressing strategic gaps.

Handoff

Transition to Permanent CMO

Structured handoff including a comprehensive briefing document, a face-to-face transition session, and a 2-week availability window for questions and support.

How This Differs From a Fractional CMO

Interim CMO

Temporary, higher-intensity engagement
Typically 3-4 days per week for 3-6 months
Near-full-time executive presence
Defined end point: arrival of permanent hire
Bridges a specific leadership gap

Fractional CMO

Ongoing, part-time strategic leadership
Typically 1-3 days per week for 6-12+ months
Permanent solution without full-time cost
Open-ended engagement
Ongoing strategic leadership

Both are served by the same calibre of GRPL senior leader. If you are unsure which model you need, GRPL will help you determine the best approach. For more on readiness signals, read our guide on when your business is ready for a fractional CMO. You may also want to explore the Chief Growth Officer service for broader growth integration.

Investment

Interim CMO engagements are priced at $15,000 to $22,000 per month for 3-4 days per week. This reflects the higher intensity and urgency of the interim model compared to a standard fractional CMO engagement. Minimum engagement term is 3 months with monthly extensions available.

For businesses that transition from interim CMO to an ongoing fractional CMO engagement, GRPL provides continuity pricing to reflect the ongoing relationship.

Cannot afford to lose marketing momentum?

GRPL's Interim CMO can be operational within a week. Let's talk.

Book an Urgent Strategy Call

Frequently Asked Questions

We Work With Businesses Across Australia

GRPL provides interim CMO and fractional CMO services in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth - with flexible engagement models that work regardless of geography.

Interim CMO

Keep Strategy Moving While You Hire the Right Leader

What an Interim CMO Does

Maintains Strategic Continuity

Leads the Marketing Team

Manages Agency & Vendor Relationships

Reports to the CEO & Board

Protects Pipeline & Revenue

Prepares the Ground for the Permanent Hire

When You Need an Interim CMO

Sudden Departure

First CMO Hire

Performance Exit

M&A or Restructure

Parental Leave or Extended Absence

How the Interim CMO Engagement Works

Rapid Assessment

Stabilisation

Leadership & Improvement

Transition to Permanent CMO

How This Differs From a Fractional CMO

Interim CMO

Fractional CMO

Investment

Cannot afford to lose marketing momentum?

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly can an interim CMO start?

How long does a typical interim CMO engagement last?

Will the interim CMO make major changes to our marketing strategy?

What happens when we hire our permanent CMO?

Can the interim CMO help with the permanent CMO recruitment?

What if we decide we do not need a full-time CMO after all?

Is this more expensive than a fractional CMO?

What industries does GRPL's interim CMO service cover?

We Work With Businesses Across Australia