Fractional CMO for SaaS companies
A senior marketing leader in your company in weeks, not months. 16 years scaling SaaS companies, from first marketing hire to 100M users. Strategy and execution together, accountable for outcomes, not ideas.
- Users acquired at Proton
- 100M+
- Revenue growth at Proton
- ~4×
- CAC reduction at SOAX
- 78%
- Organic traffic increase at SOAX
- 483%
Fractional CMO services
End-to-end marketing leadership, strategy and execution together: a cross-functional strategy built for sustainable, repeatable growth. In practice that means:
- Brand & GTM. Where you play and why you win: ICP, positioning, messaging, brand, and go-to-market strategy.
- Demand generation & growth. A cross-channel growth engine: thought leadership, PR, paid, affiliates, SEO and LLM, ABM, and PLG.
- Lifecycle & retention. Revenue beyond the first conversion: onboarding, activation, expansion, and conversion optimization.
- Revenue & sales alignment. One commercial engine with sales: funnel design, lead scoring and quality, pipeline stages, and a clean handoff to sales.
- Measurement & P&L. Marketing run as a P&L, not a cost center: CAC, LTV, and payback managed against the company's economics.
- AI & marketing ops. The operating system of the function: martech, automation, and AI to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
- Org design & team. Team structuring, hiring, and coaching. Agency and freelancer management.
“He built a marketing engine almost from scratch, in a tough environment, and made it work. He knows how to scale, how to lead, and how to ask the right questions. Most importantly, he shows up.”
Is a fractional CMO the right hire?
Good fit
- You run a SaaS company past product-market fit, typically $1M+ ARR
- Your marketing function has no senior owner, or marketing hasn't been built yet
- You want honest input, even when it's uncomfortable
- You want someone on your side who decides fast, combining past experience with your current data
Probably not a fit
- You're pre-product-market fit.
- You have no marketing budget and no plans to build a marketing function.
- You're looking for a single-channel specialist or executor.
- You already have a strong marketing leader and want a sparring partner for them or for you.
“Sandro was the CEO's right hand and sparring partner in many aspects of the business, not just marketing. He was instrumental in developing the company's products, from the original Diviac logbook to what has now become PADI Travel.”
Industry expertise
SaaS. Most of my experience is with SaaS companies. That's where I bring the most value and the most transferable playbooks.
B2B and B2C. Extensive experience with both, across PLG and self-serve motions as well as sales-assisted and lead gen.
Where I've worked. AI, data, privacy, security, tech, fintech, and travel. These are the industries where I've already worked and can bring direct learnings. Other industries work too, they just need some translation. I've moved between industries more than once, so ramping up fast is part of how I work.
“Sandro is an A-level team player who works well with others and gets results. He spearheaded several critical projects in his time at Proton. He routinely ventured outside his comfort zone without complaint to ensure results and delivery, even becoming a substitute engineering manager for a time.”
Hiring a fractional CMO: the process
Commitment. The companies I work with typically want two to three days a week, embedded in their team, tools, and meetings. Remote-first, on-site when it matters.
Duration. Engagements typically run six to twelve months. That's the standard, and I'm open to longer or shorter where it makes sense.
The first 30 days. I audit everything: funnel data, channel performance, attribution, team, positioning. You get a growth model, a diagnosis, and a prioritized roadmap. From there I run it.
Ongoing. I own the marketing roadmap, lead the team, manage the budget, and report to you and the board. One person accountable for the number.
The handover. Engagements are built to hand over: either I hire and onboard your full-time marketing leader, or your team runs the machine without needing me weekly.
“He's one of the most thoughtful and dependable marketing leaders I've worked with. Sandro brings a deeply systematic approach to everything he does, from high-level strategy to the smallest executional details.”
FAQ
What does fractional CMO mean?
Fractional means you get a Chief Marketing Officer for a fraction of their time, typically two to three days a week, at a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive. The seniority is the same. In my case: 16 years in SaaS, first marketing leader at Proton, CMO at SOAX.
What is a fractional CMO?
A senior marketing executive who joins your leadership team part-time and owns the marketing function: strategy, team, budget, and results. Different from a consultant, who advises, and from an agency, which executes. I work inside your company, in your tools and your meetings, and answer for the outcome.
Why hire a fractional CMO?
Because senior marketing leadership is the difference between activity and growth, and a full-time CMO costs $250K+ fully loaded plus a six-month search. A fractional CMO gets you the same leadership in weeks, scaled to what your stage actually needs. You also see how we work together before any full-time commitment.
Who should hire a fractional CMO?
SaaS companies past product-market fit, typically $1M+ ARR, where marketing has no senior owner: founder-led marketing that hit its ceiling, or a junior team without clear direction. If you're pre-product-market fit or need a single-channel specialist, a fractional CMO is the wrong spend, and I'll say so on the first call.
When should you hire a fractional CMO?
When growth has stalled and nobody can tell you exactly why. Typical signals: marketing spend grows but pipeline doesn't, the CEO makes marketing decisions by default, channels run without shared measurement, or agency budgets can't be connected to revenue. Two or more of these, and it's time for a conversation.
How much does a fractional CMO cost?
Senior fractional CMOs charge $250 to $450 per hour, usually packaged as a monthly retainer. Roughly a third of a full-time CMO's fully loaded cost, with no equity and no recruiter fee. My engagements are priced by days per week and scope, agreed up front.
How many days a week, and for how long?
Most engagements settle on two to three days a week for six to twelve months. Longer or shorter works where it makes sense.
Do you work remote or on-site?
Remote-first, on-site for kickoffs, offsites, and anything that's better done in person. I've run marketing teams across EMEA, North America, and APAC.
“Sandro was the CEO's right hand and sparring partner in many aspects of the business, not just marketing. He was instrumental in developing the company's products, from the original Diviac logbook to what has now become PADI Travel.”
Work with me
Currently taking on fractional CMO engagements. If your SaaS company has product-market fit and needs its growth engine built, get in touch.
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