Senior product and engineering leadership, without the full-time hire
Fractional and Interim CTO
A fractional CTO is a senior chief technology officer who works part-time, typically one to three days a week, and owns the product technology, platform architecture and engineering team for a business that does not yet need a full-time CTO. An interim CTO does the same job full-time for a fixed term, usually three to twelve months, to cover a leadership gap or carry a critical platform change.
Intology provides both. Every engagement is led by one named, board-level executive, so the person you meet is the person who does the work. Intology holds no reseller agreements, vendor partnerships or development revenue, so build, buy and partner decisions are made in your interest.
- No vendor commissions
- One named executive
- In post within weeks
01
Fractional CTO or fractional CIO: which you need
The titles are often used loosely. The difference is what the role owns.
| Fractional CTO | Fractional CIO | |
|---|---|---|
| Owns | The product technology, platform and engineering team | The enterprise IT estate: ERP, data, infrastructure and business systems |
| Typical business | Software-led, SaaS or digital product businesses and scale-ups | Businesses where technology runs the operation rather than being the product |
| Measured on | Platform scalability, delivery speed, engineering quality and product roadmap | Business performance, resilience, cost and change delivery |
Owns
Fractional CTO
Fractional CIO
Typical business
Fractional CTO
Fractional CIO
Measured on
Fractional CTO
Fractional CIO
Many mid-market businesses need one senior technology owner who covers both. Where the estate is mainly enterprise systems, see Fractional and Interim CIO.
02
When a fractional CTO is the right call
- 01The product or platform has become the constraint on growth and nobody senior owns the fix
- 02A private equity sponsor wants a credible technology owner against the value creation plan
- 03Engineering delivery is slow, unpredictable or over-dependent on one or two people
- 04A re-platforming, cloud migration or major architecture decision is due and the business needs an independent view
- 05A sale, refinancing or acquisition is coming and the platform has to stand up to technology due diligence
- 06The CTO has left and a permanent search will take six to nine months
03
What a fractional or interim CTO owns
Technology strategy and roadmap
Architecture and scalability
Engineering leadership and delivery
Technical debt and build or buy
Security and resilience by design
Board and investor reporting
04
Fractional CTO for private equity and scale-ups
Private equity sponsors and growth investors use a fractional or interim CTO when the platform sits at the centre of the investment thesis and the existing leadership does not have the time or seniority to carry it.
That usually means a platform baseline the investor trusts, a roadmap tied to the value creation plan, engineering delivery the board can see, and a platform ready for exit diligence. Before completion, see technology due diligence. For a fast pre-LOI view, see the technology red-flag review.
05
Who leads the engagement
Intology's fractional and interim CTO engagements are led by Richard Keenlyside, Intology's founder, who has 34 years of board-level technology leadership across CTO, CIO, CISO and Transformation Director roles, including IT Director at J Sainsbury PLC. See his global CIO and transformation experience.
06
Related leadership roles
Fractional and Interim CIO
Enterprise IT, ERP, data and business systems
Fractional CISO and vCISO
Security strategy, risk and board reporting
Fractional Chief AI Officer
AI strategy, risk and value
Interim Transformation Director
Accountable for the business change outcome
Retained Technology Advisor
Senior technology advice on call, by the month
What is a fractional CTO?
A fractional CTO is a senior chief technology officer who works part-time, typically one to three days a week, on a rolling engagement. They own the technology strategy, platform architecture and engineering team, without the business carrying the cost of a full-time executive.
What is the difference between a fractional CTO and an interim CTO?
A fractional CTO works part-time on an ongoing basis. An interim CTO works full-time for a fixed term, usually three to twelve months, to cover a gap, lead a critical platform change or bridge to a permanent hire.
What is the difference between a CTO and a CIO?
A CTO owns the product technology, platform and engineering team. A CIO owns the enterprise IT estate, such as ERP, data, infrastructure and business systems. Many mid-market businesses need one senior technology owner covering both.
How many days a week does a fractional CTO work?
Usually one to three days a week, more during the first 90 days or a major platform change, and fewer once the roadmap and team are in place.
Do you work with private equity backed businesses and scale-ups?
Yes. Much of the work is with PE-backed portfolio companies and growth businesses where the platform is central to the investment case.
What does a fractional CTO 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 technology vendors?
Yes. Intology holds no reseller agreements, vendor partnerships or development revenue, and does not bid to build what its CTOs recommend.
Is technology holding your growth back?
Tell us what is driving the question: a growth plan, an investor, a departure or a platform decision. We will tell you honestly whether you need a fractional CTO, an interim CTO or something narrower. The first conversation is confidential.