Ongoing AI Leadership
Fractional Chief AI Officer
Executive-level AI leadership without the full-time cost. Strategy, governance, vendor evaluation, and team development — from someone who builds with AI daily, not just advises on it.
$350K+
Average total cost of a full-time CAIO hire (salary + benefits + equity)
142 days
Average time to fill an AI leadership role — if you can find the right person at all
You Need AI Leadership, Not Another Hire
Mid-market companies need someone who can set AI direction, evaluate vendors, manage risk, and build organizational capability. But you don't need that person 40 hours a week — and you can't wait 5 months to find one. A fractional CAIO gets you moving in weeks, not quarters.
What Your Fractional CAIO Handles
AI Strategy & Roadmap
Define and maintain your AI strategy. Align AI initiatives to business outcomes. Prioritize investments based on ROI, not hype.
Vendor & Tool Evaluation
Vendor-neutral evaluation of AI platforms, tools, and partners. Cut through sales pitches with someone who builds with these tools daily.
AI Governance & Risk
Establish AI policies, usage guidelines, and risk frameworks before regulators force you to. Prepare for EU AI Act and emerging US state legislation.
Team & Culture Development
Build AI fluency across your organization. Identify skill gaps, develop training plans, and mentor your technical leaders on AI adoption.
Fractional vs. Full-Time vs. Consultant
Fractional CAIO
- Start in weeks, not months
- Accountable for outcomes
- Knows your business deeply
- Flexes with your needs
- No long-term commitment
Full-Time CAIO
- 142-day average hiring timeline
- $350K+ total compensation
- May not have hands-on AI experience
- Fixed cost regardless of workload
- Expensive to course-correct
Project Consultant
- Delivers one output and leaves
- No ongoing accountability
- Doesn't know your culture
- Strategy without execution
- Starts from scratch each engagement
How It Works
Cadence: 2-4 days/month, including a standing leadership meeting, ad-hoc advisory, and quarterly strategy reviews
Commitment: Month-to-month; no long-term contracts required
Best starting point: The Assessment gives your fractional CAIO a complete baseline — data readiness, organizational dynamics, and prioritized opportunities
Michael Cooper
Your Fractional CAIO
Nearly 30 years navigating enterprise technology transitions at Microsoft, Citrix, Simplot, and Micron. Hundreds of hours building with Claude, Gemini, and Codex — not just advising on them. Published author (McGraw-Hill). When you work with Tributary, you work directly with Michael.
Connect on LinkedIn →Common Questions
Ready for AI Leadership?
Let's talk about whether a fractional CAIO is the right fit — and whether The Assessment is the best place to start.