Interim CTO Services for Critical Transitions
Your CTO just left. A major technical crisis emerged. You're in M&A due diligence. Whatever the situation, you need experienced technology leadership—now.
When You Need an Interim CTO:
Sudden or planned exit requiring immediate coverage
Bridge the gap while hiring permanent CTO
Critical periods requiring senior oversight
Technical emergency requiring experienced leadership
Investors require dedicated tech executive
What is an Interim CTO?
An interim CTO is a temporary Chief Technology Officer who provides full-time leadership during transitional periods. Unlike a fractional CTO who works part-time ongoing, an interim CTO works full-time for a defined period—typically 3-6 months.
The role is designed for immediate, intensive coverage when you can't wait months to hire a permanent CTO. An interim CTO steps in, stabilises the situation, and ensures continuity while you conduct a proper search for permanent leadership.
With 25+ years experience and 5x CTO roles, I can provide interim leadership while also helping you define what permanent leadership should look like—and supporting the transition when you find the right person.
Interim CTO Deliverables:
Interim CTO vs Fractional CTO
Different solutions for different situations.
| Factor | Interim CTO | Fractional CTO |
|---|---|---|
| Time Commitment | Full-time (5 days/week) | Part-time (1-4 days/week) |
| Duration | 3-6 months typically | Ongoing (months to years) |
| Purpose | Gap coverage, crisis management | Sustainable leadership |
| Monthly Cost | £15,000-£25,000+ | £2,500-£10,000 |
| Start Time | 1-2 weeks | 1-2 weeks |
| Exit Strategy | Hand off to permanent hire | Can continue indefinitely |
Choose Interim CTO When:
- •Your CTO just left and you need immediate coverage
- •You're in a crisis requiring full-time attention
- •Board/investors require full-time executive presence
- •You plan to hire a permanent CTO within 6 months
Choose Fractional CTO When:
- •You need ongoing strategic leadership, not gap coverage
- •Your budget doesn't support full-time executive costs
- •You don't need daily CTO attention
- •You want sustainable leadership for 1+ years
How Interim CTO Engagements Work
Rapid Assessment
- Team and stakeholder meetings
- Technical landscape review
- Immediate risk identification
- Quick wins implementation
Stabilisation
- Day-to-day technical leadership
- Process improvements
- Team morale and retention
- Stakeholder communications
Transition
- CTO search support
- Candidate evaluation
- Knowledge transfer
- Smooth handover
Interim CTO FAQ
What is an interim CTO?
An interim CTO is a temporary Chief Technology Officer who provides full-time leadership during transitional periods—typically when a CTO has departed, during a leadership search, or through critical company phases like M&A. Engagements usually last 3-6 months.
How is an interim CTO different from a fractional CTO?
An interim CTO works full-time (5 days/week) for a temporary period, filling a gap until a permanent hire. A fractional CTO works part-time (1-4 days/week) as an ongoing arrangement. Interim is for crisis coverage; fractional is for sustainable leadership.
How quickly can an interim CTO start?
An experienced interim CTO can typically start within 1-2 weeks, compared to 3-6 months for a permanent CTO hire. This rapid deployment is critical when you need immediate leadership coverage.
What does an interim CTO cost?
Interim CTO services typically cost £2,000-£3,500 per day or £40,000-£70,000+ for a 3-month engagement. While higher than permanent salaries on a monthly basis, there are no recruitment fees, equity, or long-term commitments.
Will the interim CTO help hire my permanent CTO?
Yes. A good interim CTO should help define the permanent CTO role, participate in candidate evaluation, and ensure smooth knowledge transfer during the transition. This is a core part of the engagement.
Need Interim CTO Coverage?
Whether your CTO just departed or you're facing a critical transition, let's discuss how interim leadership can provide immediate stability.