Fractional CIO
CIO-level decisions without a full-time CIO. A fractional CIO from LogicX works with your board usually 1 or 2 days a week on IT strategy, budget and suppliers, for a fixed monthly fee.
At a glance
What is a fractional CIO?
A fractional CIO, sometimes called a part-time CIO, is an experienced IT executive who works for your organisation usually 1 or 2 days a week, usually for 6 months or longer. They set IT strategy and budget with the board, manage suppliers and report to the board every month. It is an ongoing role with agreed decision rights and a fixed rhythm.
Who it is for
Organisations where IT supports the business and nobody owns the direction.
- Your IT staff keep everything running, but nobody owns the IT strategy.
- IT has spread across departments and suppliers, and nobody keeps it joined up.
- You face a major IT investment, such as a new ERP system, and do not want to leave the decisions to the supplier.
- Suppliers and contracts are getting out of hand.
- Customers ask about security or AI use, and nobody in your organisation owns the answer.
- The board wants control over IT costs and risks, and a fixed moment each month to see them.
How a fractional CIO differs from interim
An interim IT leader fills a gap for a while and leaves when the permanent hire starts. A fractional CIO holds an ongoing role alongside the board: the same person, with agreed decision rights and a fixed rhythm of days and reports, usually for 6 months or longer. The job is direction and decisions, not running day-to-day operations.
What sits outside the role
On usually 1 or 2 days a week, a fractional CIO does not run a service desk, administer systems or manage your IT staff day to day. That stays with your own people or your supplier, or LogicX organises it under one lead through IT support and management. If your IT manager leaves and someone has to take over full-time tomorrow, that is interim.
What you get
IT strategy and roadmap
A plan for the next 1 to 3 years, derived from your business goals and adjusted when they change.
Control of the IT budget
Costs, licences and investments laid out, with choices the board can follow and defend.
Supplier management
Contracts, performance and renegotiation, with agreements you can enforce.
Monthly board report
One overview of progress, costs and risks each month, written for a board without an IT background.
What a month looks like
The cadence is agreed at the start. This is the usual rhythm.
Take stock
Systems, contracts and costs mapped. Then the first version of the roadmap goes on the table.
Fixed days
On the agreed days, usually 1 or 2 a week: decisions on suppliers, budget and running projects, and time with your IT staff.
Board report
Progress, costs and risks in one overview, discussed with the board or management team.
Not for
A gap that needs full-time cover now
That is interim IT leadership: usually 4 to 5 days a week, until the permanent hire starts.
SeeCompanies whose product is software
That calls for a fractional CTO: architecture, engineering team and roadmap.
SeeA one-off review of your IT
That is the IT audit. An IT audit from LogicX is an independent review with a priority plan, not an audit opinion or assurance report.
SeeFrequently asked questions
What does a fractional CIO cost?
A fixed monthly fee, agreed up front and set by the number of days a week: from €3,450 a month for 1 day a week, excluding VAT. The exact figure is in the proposal. You get the figure in a proposal after a 30-minute call.
How is this different from an interim CIO?
An interim CIO usually works 4 to 5 days a week, fills a temporary gap and stops at handover. A fractional CIO stays, usually 1 or 2 days a week, and does not take over day-to-day operations.
Fractional CIO or fractional CTO?
If IT supports your business, a CIO: strategy, budget and suppliers. If software is your product, a CTO: architecture, engineering team and roadmap. When in doubt, we work it out together on the first call.
Fractional CIO, IT director or Head of IT: which do you need?
In large organisations these are separate roles. In smaller and mid-sized companies they often merge. The question is who sets the direction, the IT budget and the choice of suppliers. A fractional CIO does that, usually 1 or 2 days a week. If someone has to run the IT department day to day, interim or a permanent IT manager fits better.
We are recruiting a permanent CIO. Does a fractional CIO make sense?
Yes, as a bridge. The fractional CIO takes the decisions that cannot wait and hands over when the permanent CIO starts, with the roadmap, the budget overview and the supplier agreements ready. If someone has to run IT full-time until then, interim is the better choice.
Do you work on site?
Part of the time on site and the rest remotely. We agree the split up front, per engagement.
How does it end?
When the role is no longer needed or a permanent CIO starts. The notice period is in the proposal. The roadmap, the budget overview and the supplier agreements are handed over to you. The documents we make for you are yours. Our own templates and methods stay ours.