What is a part-time CMO, and how does the model work in the United States?

A part-time CMO is a senior marketing leader who joins your management team for part of the week. They own strategy, budget, team and results, on 1 to 3 days a week. American companies mostly call this a fractional CMO, and the two names cover the same model. The decision side is covered in fractional CMO in the United States. This page covers the practical side: days, cost, start and logistics.

iytro created the Part-time CMO model in France in 2019. It has offices in Paris, Barcelona and New York.

How many days a week, and what does it cost?

An iytro leader is embedded in your team 1 to 3 days per week, or as an interim when the marketing seat is empty. The day rate is €1,100 to €1,500. Two days a week comes to about €10,000 to €12,000 per month. These figures are in euros.

There is no long-term commitment. The volume is adjusted month by month. A company preparing a US launch can run three days a week for a quarter and drop to one or two once the plan is in motion. As a rule of thumb:

• 1 day a week: steering. Strategy, priorities, coaching the people who execute.
• 2 days: the leader also runs the team, the agencies and the main projects.
• 3 days: close to a full CMO seat, for a launch, a repositioning or interim cover.

Which companies in the United States is it for?

• A European company opening its US business. The American market is large, competitive and expensive to learn by trial and error. The subsidiary is too small for a full-time CMO, and head office marketing is too far away to run it. A part-time leader takes ownership of US marketing and keeps it aligned with the group.
• A US start-up where the founder still runs marketing. The company has traction and a few marketers or agencies. It needs someone senior to set direction and manage them.
• A US company entering Europe. iytro leaders work across European markets from Paris and Barcelona. One leader can cover both sides of the Atlantic plan.
• A company between two marketing leaders. An interim holds the function while you search.

If you are a European company expanding to the US, also read part-time CMO in Europe. It explains how one leader runs marketing across several home markets, which is usually what the US launch has to connect to.

When the need is execution capacity more than leadership, iytro has two other offers: 1+1, a small subscription team, and On Demand, a scoped project delivered as a finished asset.

How are on-site and remote days organised across the US?

iytro's US office is in New York. It has no other office in the country. For companies elsewhere in the United States, iytro leaders work from New York, on site when needed and remotely otherwise.

The country spans several time zones, so the calendar deserves attention from day one:

• Fixed days. The same days each week, with agreed hours that overlap with your team wherever it sits.
• On-site moments. Kickoff, workshops, hiring interviews, planning sessions and board meetings are worth doing in person.
• Remote routine. Weekly team meeting, one-to-ones, agency reviews and reporting run well by video.
• Link with Europe. For a European group, East Coast mornings overlap with the European afternoon. Put the transatlantic meetings there.

How does a part-time CMO engagement start?

It starts with a conversation about your situation: stage, team, targets, what has already been tried in the US. iytro then proposes a leader whose background matches the need. The profiles cover CMO, Head of Growth, Brand Director, Product Marketing, CRM, Content, Field and Partner Marketing, and Marketing Ops.

The first weeks generally go to diagnosis: positioning for American buyers, funnel data, team, tools and budget. The leader then sets a short list of priorities and runs them with your team. Each month you review the number of days.

iytro has worked with 400+ clients, 86% of clients recommend it, and it is B Corp certified. To see what an engagement looks like, read the SaleCycle case study and the Hublo case study.