Why Hire an Interim Chief Communications Officer or Fractional CMO?
In moments of change, the right communications leader helps you stay anchored — providing the steady support that keeps your business moving upward.
When your business is navigating transition or uncertainty, steady senior communications leadership — fractional or interim — can make all the difference.
An interim Chief Communications Officer (CCO) or Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) can bring immediate clarity and direction. Whether it’s a leadership transition, a new strategy, or a period of rapid growth, interim leadership helps maintain momentum and ensures communications stay aligned with your business priorities.
An experienced CCO steps in quickly — assessing programs, identifying gaps, and building confidence across teams and stakeholders. This means your marketing and communications functions keep operating smoothly, while the organization is also positioned for what’s next.
Strong interim leadership doesn’t just hold the line. It often sets a higher bar — refining messaging, strengthening reputation, and establishing more effective processes that endure well beyond the engagement.
What Is an Interim Chief Communications Officer?
An Interim Chief Communications Officer (CCO) is a senior communications leader who steps in temporarily to guide an organization’s messaging and reputation through change or transition. This executive often works in close partnership with—or in dual capacity as—the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), aligning communications and marketing to business goals, protecting brand reputation, and building stakeholder confidence.
The Interim CCO or CMO typically serves for a defined period of two to four quarters and oversees corporate communications functions such as media relations, analyst relations, and executive visibility, along with marketing areas including brand positioning, content strategy, and digital engagement.
Here’s how immediate, executive-level expertise can elevate a business:
Maintain and Drive Momentum
Maintain foundational communications programs and adapt strategies to evolving business goals— all while keeping your marketing and communications teams motivated and focused.
Gain Strategic Confidence
Navigate business transformations and challenges with clarity. A fractional CCO or CMO ensures stakeholder alignment—whether with investors, employees, or customers—offering communication and counseling expertise to help your executive team communicate confidently. This includes providing crisis communications expertise, ensuring your company is prepared to manage high-stakes situations with clarity and control.
Secure Reputation Management
In times of change, protecting your brand is paramount. An experienced interim CCO or CMO will proactively manage your company’s reputation, anticipating challenges and implementing strategies to safeguard your brand.
Navigating change takes experience and clarity. The right communications leader brings both — keeping your business steady, aligned, and moving forward.
Lorraine Hamby serves as an interim Chief Communications Officer and fractional Chief Marketing Officer, guiding technology companies through growth and transformation.
