Interim CCO/CMO Leadership
Providing Expert Marketing and Communications Counsel
Navigating complex business challenges requires strategic insight and experienced leadership. Lorraine Hamby provides support as an interim Chief Communications Officer (CCO) or interim Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), providing expert communications counsel to help businesses manage change and scale for growth.
Lorraine provides the leadership and vision required to support your business’s goals effectively and efficiently. She ensures that your communications strategy aligns with your company’s objectives, and builds a strong foundation for long-term success. The scope and duration of service are flexible and tailored to meet each client’s specific needs and challenges— whether supporting large, established departments, working alongside a lean internal team, or coordinating with agency partners.
As an embedded but external leader, she offers the best of both worlds—the dedication of an internal leader combined with the fresh perspective and objectivity of an outside consultant.
Scope of CCO Services
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Engagements can range from fractional (part-time or project-based leadership) to interim (full-time for a defined period). In both cases, the role provides senior-level oversight across marketing and communications—aligning strategy, messaging, and execution while maintaining flexibility and continuity during transitions or growth phases.
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Strategic guidance on key initiatives and executive-level decisions, serving as an integrated member of the leadership team. This includes coaching and advising executives for high-visibility moments—such as employee all-hands, media interviews, and investor meetings—while ensuring overall communications strategy aligns with business goals.
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Strategic guidance if a crisis or reputational issue arises, including rapid-response messaging, media coordination, and internal alignment. Working with executive decision-makers, legal, and cross-functional teams, this work draws on deep crisis-management expertise to guide clear, consistent communication at every stage.
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Experienced leadership to guide in-house and agency teams, ensuring clear, compelling communications across every channel. This work can encompass website redesigns, event strategy, social media publishing, and sales enablement.
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Assessment of your current marketing and communications function—from team structure to budget and systems. If needed, areas for improvement are identified along with best-practice recommendations to set the team up for success and lay the groundwork for a future hire.
“Lorraine has been a trusted partner, stepping in as an interim leader on my team. She led both corporate communications and social media marketing, supporting brand-building across the organization."
— Carolyn Appleby, VP of Marketing, Informatica
Why Hire a Fractional CCO?
A fractional CMO or CCO delivers high-level expertise, helping you maintain momentum and make informed decisions. With seasoned communication counseling, you gain the clarity and alignment needed to manage stakeholder relationships, reputation, and corporate messaging effectively.
We deliver executive-level expertise precisely when and where you need it most, empowering your business in key areas:
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 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 will proactively manage your company’s reputation, anticipating challenges and implementing strategies to safeguard your brand.
For more on how interim communications counsel can support your business, read Interim Communications Counsel: Expertise When You Need It Most.
Hamby Communications Leadership Experience
Lorraine Hamby has extensive in-house experience, having led communications for Symantec, HP, and Intuit. Her corporate experience is complemented by more than a decade of consulting, where she has served as a strategic communications advisor and interim leader.
Interim leadership roles have included Everseen Chief Marketing Officer, Informatica VP of Corporate Communications, and PayPal Executive Communications Lead.