Interim CMO
Bridge times of transition with confidence. Steady leadership when it matters most.
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What It Is
When your organization faces a leadership gap or critical moment of change, our Interim CMO service provides experienced, embedded executive leadership to keep your marketing initiatives on track.
Whether due to an unexpected departure, medical or family leave, organizational restructuring, or a pending hire, an Authentic Interim CMO steps in immediately to provide continuity, lead the team, and maintain momentum without disruption.
These engagements are short-term but high-impact. Your Interim CMO not only stabilizes day-to-day operations, but also brings fresh perspective, strengthens team performance, and supports a seamless transition to permanent leadership.
What’s Included
- Strategic leadership during times of transition or absence
- Seamless onboarding and rapid situational assessment
- Embedded executive presence to maintain team continuity and morale
- Execution oversight to keep plans and programs moving forward
- Documentation and handoff process for incoming or returning leaders
- Optional support in recruiting, hiring, and onboarding a full-time CMO
- Leveraging elements of the Authentic Growth® Marketing Operating System and toolkit where appropriate within the engagement, to add strategic value, strengthen processes, or coach and develop team members
- Access to Authentic’s Mindshare and Ally Network for added capacity and support
Our Approach
Interim CMO engagements are designed for flexibility. Depending on the situation, your CMO may work near full-time or part-time during the transition window. When possible, we begin with a knowledge handoff from your outgoing or paused leader. When not, we conduct a rapid diagnostic to assess team, programs, and strategic priorities.
Your Interim CMO is supported by the full Authentic Fractional CMO community and AI-enabled resources, ensuring a fast start and a smart finish.
Engagement Structure
Timeframe
Typically 3 to 6 months
Structure
Flat-rate weekly or monthly retainer
Who It’s For
- Companies facing a temporary gap in marketing leadership
- Organizations navigating team restructure or leadership turnover
- Businesses preparing for or recovering from M&A activity
- Marketing teams in need of stability and focus during executive transitions
- Growth-stage firms needing executive coverage during a critical window
What Happens Next?
When the transition ends, your Interim CMO will support a clean handoff to a new full-time hire or promote an internal successor. Many clients also transition from an Interim engagement into:
- Fractional CMO for continued executive leadership at a flexible level of involvement
- Advisor CMO for strategic check-ins, ongoing coaching, and access to our Mindshare and Ally Network
- Authentic Growth® Activation to implement a full Marketing Operating System with planning rhythms, strategic structure, team alignment, and increasing marketing maturity
Let us help you bridge the gap — and build what’s next.
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