Service // Fractional CEO
An operator at the top. From day one.
When the company needs decisive top-of-house leadership without a permanent hire, a fractional chief executive officer (CEO) closes the gap fast. Stabilise the business, rebuild the team, restart growth, and hand back a stronger company.
- 01.The seat is empty and a permanent search will take quarters you do not have.
- 02.Founder needs an operator while staying on as Chairman or CPO.
- 03.Investor needs to stabilise a portfolio company without a full transition.
- 04.Pre-exit cleanup and KPI discipline are required for the next round or sale.
- 05.Performance has stalled and the team needs a reset without losing key people.
- 01.Full P&L ownership across commercial, operational, product and technical functions.
- 02.Leadership rebuild. Hire, promote, restructure where needed.
- 03.Operating cadence with KPI ownership and a defined reporting rhythm.
- 04.Capital allocation. Where the next euro goes, and why.
- 05.Strategy on a page. Quarterly milestones the board can grade.
- 06.Successor handover. Built to be replaceable from day one.
- >Forvana Gaming. Full turnaround as CEO. Rebuilt leadership, executed PAM platform migration, returned to growth.
- >LeoVegas Italy. €3M to €18M (+500%) in under a year as MD. Cost base cut 60%.
- >Optimized Group. Founder & CEO. 100% YoY growth for 5 years, €1.35M exit.
Italian-language CEO and managing director searches usually find me through interimceo.it, ceoadinterim.it and amministratoredelegatoadinterim.com. Cross-border briefs in English typically arrive via hireinterimceo.it. Either way, the brief lands on this desk and I reply within 24 hours.
What is a fractional CEO and how is it different from an interim CEO?+
A fractional CEO works part-time on a defined mandate, usually 2 to 3 days per week, keeping full P&L ownership. An interim CEO is typically full-time for a fixed period, often through a transition or crisis. I run both models depending on the situation.
How fast can you step into a fractional chief executive officer role in Milan, Rome or Italy?+
For most engagements I can be in a working session within a week of the first brief, and inside the business full time within 14 days. Diagnosis is written and board-ready by day 14.
What size company typically hires a fractional CEO?+
Companies from about 5M to 200M revenue, plus PE and VC portfolios. Below that a founder-operator usually suffices. Above that a permanent CEO search is worth the wait.
How much does a fractional CEO cost compared to a permanent hire?+
A fractional CEO is priced on a monthly retainer tied to scope and days. Total cost is usually 40 to 60 percent of a permanent CEO package, with no severance, no equity dilution by default, and a clean exit clause.
Do you take equity or only a retainer?+
Default is a monthly retainer plus a success fee tied to defined KPIs. Equity is optional for founder-led companies where the mandate runs 12 months or longer.