Fractional CAIO

Not the theory. The practice. What to build, how to build it, and how to make sure your team actually owns it when I leave.

I embed in your leadership team as a fractional AI Officer. Two to three days a month, four to six months. Enough time to build real systems and transfer real capability. Not enough to become a dependency.

I've spent 25 years making complex technology work for humans. Currently doing that at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, where my team builds custom AI pipelines for a 200-person organisation. Before that, scaling design practice across Istanbul and Madrid at Fjord/Accenture Interactive.

Why This Works

Builder, Not Advisor

I build production AI systems. Pipelines, automations, tools your team uses daily. Not decks. Not roadmaps. Working software.

Design-Led Approach

25 years of designing for humans means the systems I build actually get adopted. AI that nobody uses is worthless, regardless of how clever it is.

Independence by Design

Handover is built into the structure from day one. I train your people, document everything, and leave you running it yourselves. My success is your independence.

You don't need an enterprise budget.

If you don't have tens of thousands of people, you don't need a custom platform. The third-party tools that exist today are genuinely good. They respect your data, they work with the systems you already have, and they're ready now.

What most organisations actually need is someone who knows how to connect those tools to real workflows, train their people to use them properly, and build the few custom pieces that off-the-shelf can't cover. That's what I do. No rip-and-replace. No vendor lock-in. Your existing tools, your existing team, working differently.

Previous outcomes

16 weeks to launch From concept to production AI intelligence system processing 500+ sources daily
85% time saved Reduction in manual research and curation time through AI pipeline automation
200 people trained Organisation-wide AI adoption, from leadership to operations, not just a tech team
Zero attrition AI implementation designed around people, not replacing them. Full team retention throughout

The Programme

Four phases over 4–6 months. Each builds on the last. You get real systems in production, not a strategy document gathering dust.

Diagnostic

Month 1 2–3 days

Map your current state. Where are the bottlenecks? Which processes are manual that shouldn't be? What decisions are being made without data? I talk to your people, watch how they work, and identify where AI creates real leverage, not theoretical value.

Deliverables

  • AI maturity snapshot
  • Quick-win opportunity map
  • Risk assessment
  • Prioritised initiative shortlist

Architecture

Month 2 2–3 days

Design the system. Based on the diagnostic, I architect the AI solution. Platform choices, data flows, integration points, team capabilities needed. This is not a vendor pitch. It's an honest assessment of what will actually work in your organisation.

Deliverables

  • AI strategy document
  • Technology stack recommendation
  • Data readiness plan
  • Capability gap analysis

First Build

Months 3–4 2–3 days/month

Ship something real. One high-impact pipeline, automation, or tool goes into production. Your team is involved throughout, learning by building, not by watching. By the end of this phase, you have a working system generating value.

Deliverables

  • Production AI system
  • Team training & documentation
  • Measurement framework
  • Runbook & operational guides

Scale & Handover

Months 5–6 2–3 days/month

Expand what works across the organisation. Transfer knowledge to internal champions. Build governance so AI use is responsible and sustainable. When I leave, your team runs everything. That's the whole point.

Deliverables

  • Scaled deployment
  • AI governance framework
  • Internal champion programme
  • Transition & continuity plan

Is This Right for You?

This is for you if…

  • You're 20–200 people and know AI matters but don't have internal capability
  • You want systems in production, not another strategy deck
  • You need someone who embeds with your team, not visits quarterly
  • You want your people trained and independent, not dependent on a vendor
  • You're in professional services, sustainability, finance, or manufacturing

Probably not the right fit if…

  • You're a tech startup with an existing CTO and engineering team
  • You have enterprise budgets and want a Big Four consultancy
  • You're looking for someone to write a strategy and leave
  • You want to "add AI" without changing any workflows
  • You need a permanent hire. I can help you recruit one, but that is not what this is