Fractional CEO
Chief Executive Officer in Milano, Roma and across Italy. Fractional CEO leadership without the full time cost.
A Fractional CEO is a part time Chief Executive Officer who joins your leadership team two or three days a week with a clear mandate and measurable goals. The right answer for scale-ups, family businesses and PMIs in Milan (Milano), Rome (Roma) and across Italy (Italia) that need a senior chief executive officer but can't justify a full time hire.
Short answer
A fractional CEO is a part time chief executive officer who runs the company two or three days a week with real executive authority. In Italy the fee is typically 10,000 to 20,000 EUR per month and mandates last 12 to 24 months, against EBITDA, cash or valuation targets agreed upfront.
At a glance
| Presence | 2 to 3 days a week, Milan, Rome or wherever needed |
|---|---|
| Indicative cost | 10,000 to 20,000 EUR per month |
| Typical duration | 12 to 24 months, board review every 90 days |
| Authority | Executive advisor or formally appointed director |
| Best fit | SMEs and scale-ups from 3 to 50 million EUR revenue |
| Measured on | EBITDA, cash, valuation, exit, investor onboarding |
When you need a fractional CEO
The fractional CEO fits when a company has outgrown the startup phase but doesn't yet have the structure or the budget for a 300k full time CEO. Typical moments: generational transition, messy growth, exit preparation, incoming investors, or an operational turnaround aziendale led by a turnaround manager.
- Founder who wants to go back to product and out of operations.
- SMEs between 5 and 50 million in revenue scaling up.
- Preparation for a funding round or vendor due diligence.
- Operational turnaround with 6, 12, 18 month goals.
- Generational handover with an external safeguard.
What a fractional CEO actually does
This isn't consulting. It's operational leadership. The fractional CEO signs decisions, runs the executive team, chairs board meetings, deals with banks and investors, sets quarterly priorities and delivers them.
- 12, 24 and 36 month strategy defined with the owners.
- Operating cadence: OKRs, KPIs, weekly executive rhythm.
- Relationships with banks, investors, board and advisors.
- Recruiting and development of first line leaders.
- Preparation for exit, fundraising or generational handover.
Want to know if a fractional manager is actually right for your company?
Let's talk →How much a fractional CEO costs
A senior fractional CEO in Italy costs between 10,000 and 20,000 EUR per month depending on days engaged, company complexity and mandate scope. Less than a quarter of a full time CEO with the same seniority. No golden handshake, no long term incentive, closed end mandate.
Why work with Niklas Lindahl
15 years across scale-ups, turnarounds and M&A. Contributed to MGM's €607M exit, tripled B2B revenues, worked with teams from 10 to 500 people. Based in Milan, works across Italy and in English with international clients.
Fractional manager in Milan, Rome, Italy and Europe
Management consulting and fractional manager services for companies in Milan (Milano), Rome (Roma), Turin, Bologna and across Italy (Italia). If you need to hire or find a fractional manager, a part time CEO, CMO, CRO or COO, or a fractional Chief Executive Officer in Milan, Rome or Italy, this fractional manager and consultant works with clients in Lombardy, Lazio, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Tuscany, Liguria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino, Marche, Campania, Puglia and Sicilia. Fractional consulting mandates also across Europe: EU, Northern Europe, UK, EMEA. The fractional manager and part time chief executive officer travels from Milan to Rome, Turin, Bologna, Padua, Verona, Florence, Genoa, Naples, Bari and other leading Italian and European cities. Senior management consulting brings operational leadership in Italy without the cost of a full time chief executive officer.
Frequently asked questions
01How much does a fractional CEO in Milan or Italy cost in 2026?
A senior fractional CEO in Milan (Milano), Rome (Roma) or across Italy typically costs between 10,000 and 20,000 EUR per month for two or three days a week. Fees depend on revenue, operational complexity and mandate scope. Roughly a quarter of the full time cost of an equivalent chief executive officer, with no severance, no long term incentive and no exit costs.
02When does hiring a fractional CEO make more sense than a full time chief executive officer?
When the company sits between 3 and 50 million EUR in revenue, when ownership wants to delegate operational leadership but cannot yet justify a 250-400k full time CEO, or when the mandate has a defined horizon: generational transition, exit preparation, PE investor onboarding, turnaround. For any mandate under 12 months, a fractional CEO is almost always the most efficient option.
03Can a fractional CEO sign contracts and legally represent the company?
Yes. A fractional CEO can be formally appointed as amministratore delegato or board member with defined signing powers, or work as an executive advisor without formal authority. Choice depends on the mandate. For turnaround, exit prep and generational transitions, formal appointment usually makes the role more effective.
04How are the results of a fractional CEO measured?
Results are measured against numbers agreed before the mandate starts: EBITDA, revenue, cash flow, valuation, closing of a funding round or exit, debt reduction, market entry. Every 90 days a board review checks quarterly objectives. A fractional CEO doesn't sell hours, they sell an outcome. If the number is not hit, the mandate is revised.
Need a fractional CEO for your company in Milan or Italy? Let's talk.
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