Board-level AI leadership, without the full-time hire
Fractional Chief AI Officer
A fractional Chief AI Officer (CAIO) is a senior executive who works part-time, typically one to three days a week, and is accountable to the board for the organisation's use of AI: the strategy, the risks, the investment case and whether it delivers value. An interim Chief AI Officer does the same job full-time for a fixed term.
Intology provides both. Every engagement is led by one named executive. Intology sells no AI platforms, models or agents and holds no vendor partnerships, so the advice on where AI pays back, and where it does not, is independent.
Why AI needs a named owner
In most mid-market businesses AI arrives through many doors at once: staff using generative AI tools, features switched on inside existing software, and pilots run by individual teams. Without one accountable owner, risk accumulates unseen and pilots rarely reach production.
The CIO owns the technology estate and the CTO owns the product. Both have full jobs already. A Chief AI Officer holds the AI agenda as a primary accountability, working with both.
| Fractional Chief AI Officer | AI added to the CIO or CTO role | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | AI strategy, risk and value as the primary job | AI as one responsibility among many |
| Board answer | One named executive who answers for AI | Accountability often unclear |
| Typical result | A prioritised portfolio of use cases with owners and measures | Scattered pilots and unmanaged tool use |
When a fractional Chief AI Officer is the right call
- The board is asking what the AI strategy is and who owns it
- Staff are using AI tools with no policy, inventory or controls
- Several AI pilots are running and none has reached production
- Customers, insurers or regulators are asking how the business governs its use of AI
- AI is central to a private equity value creation plan or an equity story
- The business is deciding whether to build, buy or partner for AI capability
If AI is already owned, governed and delivering value, you probably do not need a CAIO engagement. We will say so.
What a fractional Chief AI Officer owns
AI strategy and use case portfolio
A board-approved AI strategy and a prioritised portfolio of use cases ranked by value, feasibility and risk.
Risk, policy and regulation
An AI inventory, acceptable use policy and risk classification, with EU AI Act, UK GDPR and sector regulator expectations mapped. For the framework itself, see AI governance framework consultancy.
Value and investment case
Every AI investment tied to a measurable outcome, tracked through to benefits rather than demonstrations.
Vendor and build or buy decisions
AI platforms and suppliers assessed independently, and build, buy or partner decisions made on evidence.
Data and security foundations
The data quality, access controls and security needed for AI to be used safely, including AI connector risk.
People and adoption
Skills, roles and ways of working changed so AI is used well, not just switched on.
Who leads the engagement
Intology's fractional Chief AI Officer engagements are led by Richard Keenlyside, Intology's founder, who has 34 years of board-level technology leadership across CIO, CTO, CISO and Transformation Director roles. For Intology's wider independent view on AI, see agentic AI consulting.
Related leadership roles
Fractional and Interim CIO
Enterprise IT, ERP, data and business systems
Fractional and Interim CTO
Product technology, platform and engineering
Fractional CISO and vCISO
Security strategy, risk and board reporting
Interim Transformation Director
Accountable for the business change outcome
Frequently asked questions
What is a fractional Chief AI Officer?+
What does a Chief AI Officer do?+
How is a Chief AI Officer different from a CIO or CTO?+
What is the difference between a fractional and an interim Chief AI Officer?+
Does a fractional Chief AI Officer help with the EU AI Act?+
What does a fractional Chief AI Officer cost?+
Is Intology independent of AI vendors?+
Who owns AI in your business?
Tell us where AI stands today: the tools in use, the pilots running and the questions the board is asking. We will tell you honestly whether you need a fractional Chief AI Officer or something narrower. The first conversation is confidential.