Board-level AI leadership, without the full-time hire
Fractional Chief AI Officer
A fractional Chief AI Officer (CAIO) is a senior executive who works part-time, typically one to three days a week, and is accountable to the board for the organisation's use of AI: the strategy, the risks, the investment case and whether it delivers value. An interim Chief AI Officer does the same job full-time for a fixed term.
Intology provides both. Every engagement is led by one named executive. Intology sells no AI platforms, models or agents and holds no vendor partnerships, so the advice on where AI pays back, and where it does not, is independent.
- No AI products to sell
- One named executive
- Accountable to the board
01
Why AI needs a named owner
In most mid-market businesses AI arrives through many doors at once: staff using generative AI tools, features switched on inside existing software, and pilots run by individual teams. Without one accountable owner, risk accumulates unseen and pilots rarely reach production.The CIO owns the technology estate and the CTO owns the product. Both have full jobs already. A Chief AI Officer holds the AI agenda as a primary accountability, working with both.
| Fractional Chief AI Officer | AI added to the CIO or CTO role | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | AI strategy, risk and value as the primary job | AI as one responsibility among many |
| Board answer | One named executive who answers for AI | Accountability often unclear |
| Typical result | A prioritised portfolio of use cases with owners and measures | Scattered pilots and unmanaged tool use |
Focus
Fractional Chief AI Officer
AI added to the CIO or CTO role
Board answer
Fractional Chief AI Officer
AI added to the CIO or CTO role
Typical result
Fractional Chief AI Officer
AI added to the CIO or CTO role
02
When a fractional Chief AI Officer is the right call
- 01The board is asking what the AI strategy is and who owns it
- 02Staff are using AI tools with no policy, inventory or controls
- 03Several AI pilots are running and none has reached production
- 04Customers, insurers or regulators are asking how the business governs its use of AI
- 05AI is central to a private equity value creation plan or an equity story
- 06The business is deciding whether to build, buy or partner for AI capability
03
What a fractional Chief AI Officer owns
AI strategy and use case portfolio
Risk, policy and regulation
Value and investment case
Vendor and build or buy decisions
Data and security foundations
People and adoption
04
Who leads the engagement
Intology's fractional Chief AI Officer engagements are led by Richard Keenlyside, Intology's founder, who has 34 years of board-level technology leadership across CIO, CTO, CISO and Transformation Director roles. For Intology's wider independent view on AI, see agentic AI consulting.
05
Related leadership roles
Fractional and Interim CIO
Enterprise IT, ERP, data and business systems
Fractional and Interim CTO
Product technology, platform and engineering
Fractional CISO and vCISO
Security strategy, risk and board reporting
Interim Transformation Director
Accountable for the business change outcome
Retained Technology Advisor
Senior technology advice on call, by the month
What is a fractional Chief AI Officer?
A fractional Chief AI Officer is a senior executive who works part-time, typically one to three days a week, and is accountable to the board for the organisation's AI strategy, risk and value, without the business carrying the cost of a full-time executive.
What does a Chief AI Officer do?
A Chief AI Officer sets the AI strategy, prioritises use cases by value, owns AI risk and policy, makes build, buy or partner decisions, and reports to the board on whether AI is delivering.
How is a Chief AI Officer different from a CIO or CTO?
The CIO owns the technology estate and the CTO owns the product. A Chief AI Officer holds AI as a primary accountability and works across both.
What is the difference between a fractional and an interim Chief AI Officer?
A fractional CAIO works part-time on an ongoing basis. An interim CAIO works full-time for a fixed term, for example to stand up AI governance quickly or bridge to a permanent hire.
Does a fractional Chief AI Officer help with the EU AI Act?
Yes. Mapping AI use against the EU AI Act, UK GDPR and sector regulator expectations, and putting proportionate controls in place, is part of the role.
What does a fractional Chief AI Officer cost?
The fee depends on days per week, duration and the mandate, and is agreed in writing before any work starts.
Is Intology independent of AI vendors?
Yes. Intology sells no AI platforms, models or agents and holds no reseller agreements or vendor partnerships.
Who owns AI in your business?
Tell us where AI stands today: the tools in use, the pilots running and the questions the board is asking. We will tell you honestly whether you need a fractional Chief AI Officer or something narrower. The first conversation is confidential.