Fractional CIO services with AI depth
A fractional Chief Information Officer helps leaders manage business technology decisions. Paul Okhrem works on priorities, supplier choices and the delivery plan within an agreed scope. The role defines decision rights and a clear reporting schedule.
Published terms: USD 180,000 minimum commitment. Up to 30 hours per month, including meetings and preparation. Engineering, software and external specialists are separate unless included. Read the fractional CIO engagement terms.
When should a company hire a fractional CIO?
Hire a fractional CIO when internal systems, data and vendors need one senior owner, but the workload remains part time. Paul Okhrem can set priorities before an acquisition, ERP change or AI rollout. A useful mandate defines the business decisions, operating team and approval rights rather than promising unlimited IT support.
- Fragmented systems and data access delay business or AI projects.
- Vendor contracts overlap, renew without review or create avoidable dependency.
- Security, operations and business teams disagree on who can approve changes.
- An acquisition, carve-out or ERP change needs clear integration priorities.
Not a fit: a 24/7 help desk or daily incident response. Assign an operational owner for those services. If the gap is the cross-company AI agenda, compare fractional CAIO services.
Need one owner for an IT decision? Send Paul a private brief with the systems, sponsor and deadline.
What is a fractional CIO, and what does the role cover?
A fractional CIO is a part-time executive who guides IT priorities, budgets, vendors and controls under a defined mandate. Paul Okhrem connects those decisions to business goals and AI plans. Your team still operates the systems. Agree decision rights, capacity and escalation needs before the role starts.
- Architecture: application and data flows, integration dependencies and the target IT roadmap.
- Vendor governance: selection criteria, renewals, costs, data terms and exit planning.
- Controls: ownership of access, security reviews, backup and continuity decisions with qualified specialists.
- AI readiness: data access, system interfaces and operating constraints for approved AI use cases.
- Executive reporting: investment decisions, risks, delivery dependencies and accountable owners.
The mandate does not make Paul the company’s CISO, legal adviser or 24-hour support team. Those roles need their own owners and escalation arrangements.
Fractional CIO, CTO, CDO or CAIO?
| Main gap | Role to consider |
|---|---|
| Enterprise IT estate, vendors and operating reliability | Fractional CIO |
| Product architecture and engineering organization | Fractional CTO |
| Data ownership, quality and governance | Fractional CDO |
| AI portfolio, value and risk across functions | Fractional CAIO |
A single mandate may touch several areas, but one part-time seat does not provide four executive roles at full capacity.
What a fractional CIO costs
Paul's fractional CIO seat costs USD 30,000 per month, with a six-month minimum and up to 30 hours per month. The minimum total is USD 180,000. Meetings, preparation and reviews count within the included time. Additional capacity, travel and specialist delivery require agreement.
These are Paul's terms, not an average market rate. Compare proposals by capacity, authority and included work. A bounded assessment can use AI consulting engagement terms instead of a recurring executive seat.
Fractional CIO versus fractional CTO
A CIO owns the internal systems, data and IT vendors that run the business. A CTO owns the technology in the product. A company may need a CIO when ERP or data programs outgrow the IT team. Product architecture and engineering leadership call for a CTO.
For that product-side mandate, review fractional CTO services. Both roles can inform AI decisions, but they need different operating owners. State the boundary in the mandate rather than treating the titles as interchangeable.
How to hire a fractional CIO
Hire against the systems and decisions that need an owner. Ask the candidate to describe the first review, approval limits and handover. Compare experience with your vendors and operating risks. The engagement should leave a usable record of decisions, not create a new dependency on one adviser.
- Write the mandate: systems, budget limits and reporting line.
- Check experience with similar systems, data programs and vendors.
- Agree the hours, meetings and response times.
- Review conflicts with software vendors and implementation partners.
- Agree the handover and the successor profile.
What should the first month produce?
Begin with the sponsor’s business priorities, critical systems, vendors, costs and open risks. Agree decision rights, prepare a short technology risk register and select the first decisions to resolve. The roadmap should show dependencies, funding gates and who will execute each change.
The free AI readiness assessment is a useful discussion aid, not an IT audit. For wider organizational change, see digital transformation consulting.
Frequently asked questions
Can the service cover a permanent CIO vacancy?
It can provide defined part-time leadership while the company decides on a permanent appointment. It is not full-time interim coverage. Confirm workload, response expectations and availability before appointing the role.
What does a fractional CIO do?
A fractional CIO sets IT priorities, budgets, vendor decisions and oversight under an agreed part-time mandate. Paul Okhrem links those decisions to business needs and AI plans. He does not replace your IT or security team. Internal staff or selected providers still operate systems and implement the agreed changes.
How much does a fractional CIO cost?
Paul Okhrem charges USD 30,000 per month for a fractional CIO mandate, with a six-month minimum. The USD 180,000 minimum includes up to 30 hours per month. These are his published fees, not a market average. Software, engineering and specialist costs are separate unless included.
Can Paul work outside Prague?
Yes. The default is remote delivery from Prague for international clients. On-site workshops and board meetings, travel costs and scheduling are agreed in advance.
What happens at the end of the minimum term?
Review whether to extend or hand over to an internal leader. The published terms allow 30 days’ notice after the six-month minimum, with the signed agreement defining billing and handover.
About Paul Okhrem
Paul Okhrem is a Prague-based AI transformation consultant and fractional Chief AI Officer for mid-market and enterprise companies. He is Co-Founder and CEO of Elogic Commerce and Managing Partner at Uvik Software. He has built B2B and enterprise software since 2009.
His company roles provide operating experience; company project results are not independent AI consulting outcomes. Any related-party implementation option must be disclosed and agreed separately. Read the evidence and measurement method.
Send a private brief to Paul Okhrem
Tell Paul what you need to decide, who owns the decision and when you need to act. Review his background and published terms.