C-suite AI leadership, embedded in your organization — without the $400K full-time salary. Get the strategic vision, board credibility, and operational accountability of a seasoned CAIO at a fraction of the cost.
A Fractional CAIO is the right move when you need executive-level AI leadership but aren't ready — or don't need — a full-time hire.
You have AI initiatives underway but no one at the executive level owns the strategy, budget, and accountability. You need someone in the room who can lead — not just advise.
Full-time Chief AI Officers command $300K–$500K+ in salary and benefits. A fractional arrangement delivers the same capability at 20–30% of the cost.
Your board has started asking hard questions about AI strategy, governance, and risk. You need an executive who can answer them — and be accountable for the answers.
You're between permanent CAIO hires — or running a search that takes 6–12 months. A fractional CAIO keeps momentum, evaluates candidates, and ensures no critical decisions get made in a vacuum.
This isn't advisory from a distance. It's embedded executive leadership — with real accountability and measurable outcomes.
| Capability | Advisory Retainer | Fractional CAIO | Full-Time CAIO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic guidance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Executive accountability | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Board-level presence | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vendor negotiation authority | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded in org culture | Partial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Typical monthly cost | $3,500–$15K | $12K–$25K | $35K–$45K+ |
| Time to start | 1–2 weeks | 2–4 weeks | 4–12 months |
| Flexibility to scale | High | High | Low |
Introductions to leadership, board orientation, access to key systems and documents. Rapid situational awareness and stakeholder mapping.
Full AI landscape assessment, team capability review, initiative audit. Identify quick wins, blockers, and the three highest-ROI opportunities.
Own the strategy, lead the team, report to the board. You get an executive who shows up, makes decisions, and drives results — every week.
Structured as monthly retainers. Minimum 6-month engagement to ensure meaningful progress. Both tiers include direct access to Cory Maffeo at the executive level.
Only 3 Fractional CAIO engagements are accepted at any one time. Check availability
Fractional CAIO engagements are capped at 3 concurrent clients to ensure the attention each organization deserves. Book a discovery call to discuss your needs and check available slots.