Fractional Executives: Part-Time C-Suite Roles Expand

Slack Consulting added six senior executives to its team this month, a move that expands the pool of part-time C-suite professionals available to small and midsize firms. The expansion targets a specific market gap where companies require top-level strategic guidance but cannot justify the payroll costs of a permanent full-time hire.

Jason Slattum, the firm’s co-founder, describes the model as fractional leadership. Under this arrangement, a company retains an experienced executive for a limited duration. These roles include Chief Revenue Officers, Chief Marketing Officers, and Chief Executive Officers. The executives work on a part-time basis. Slattum stated that this approach allows organizations to access specialized leadership experience while managing the cost associated with adding another full-time executive.

The firm serves a wide range of business types. Startups use fractional leaders during critical development stages. High-growth companies utilize these executives to scale operations or prepare for acquisitions. Established firms also turn to this model when facing a specific challenge that requires outside expertise.

Slattum brings a background in private equity to the firm. He identified value creation and speed as two key lessons from that sector. He stated that the goal is to bring that experience to companies that may not otherwise have access to executives with similar backgrounds. This private equity focus differentiates the firm from traditional consulting practices.

Traditional consultants often provide advice and leave the implementation to the client. Slattum said his approach differs by emphasizing execution in addition to developing a plan. He cited 25 years of experience with startups and Fortune 100 companies. He said the goal is to integrate with a client’s organization, work alongside its team, and help execute the plan needed to reach established goals.

Slattum believes fractional leadership will become a major business trend in the coming years. He pointed to a growing number of experienced executives who are semi-retired or no longer interested in traditional full-time employment. These professionals offer a way for companies to access that experience on a temporary basis.

The firm is based in South Florida. The recent hiring of six new executives signals an increase in capacity for new clients. The company directs interested businesses to slattconsulting.com for more information.