Chief AI Officer as a Service

Senior AI leadership, without a full-time hire.

A fractional Chief AI Officer who helps you formulate and execute your AI strategy, and turns it into measurable value, from the boardroom to daily practice.

Climbers ascending a pale blue mountain under a full moon

The service, in brief.

What a fractional Chief AI Officer does, how the engagement works and what you can expect.

AI activity is not AI leadership.

Experiments that don't scale

Pilots and individual tools spread across teams, but few reach production or show measurable value.

No single owner

AI cuts across strategy, technology, people and risk. Without clear leadership, decisions stall between functions.

Rising stakes

Regulation such as the EU AI Act, customer expectations and competitor moves make an unmanaged approach a growing risk.

Why fractional.

Full-time CAIOConsultancy projectCAIO as a Service
Time to impactMonths to recruit and onboardWeeks, for a defined projectWeeks, and continuous from then on
ContinuityHigh, within one organizationEnds when the project endsOngoing, as part of your leadership team
Cost profileFull senior salary and packageProject fees, often large teamsMonthly retainer, scaled to the time you need
ExperienceOne organization's viewMethod-led, often generalistCross-industry practitioners and network
IndependenceInternal perspectiveOften tied to vendor partnershipsVendor-neutral by design

One accountable leader across four areas.

Direction

  • AI strategy and narrative
  • AI portfolio
  • New business models

Growth

  • Go-to-market and business development
  • AI-enabled offerings
  • Partners and ecosystem

People

  • AI literacy and fluency
  • Adoption and change
  • Operating model and talent

Delivery and control

  • Transformation office
  • Governance and responsible AI
  • Technology and vendors

The CAIO is also a trusted AI voice for your board: regular briefings, clear investment cases, oversight of risk and compliance, and a credible AI story for investors and clients.

  1. 1

    Set direction

    Our AI Strategy Service (6–8 weeks), or a review of your existing strategy.

  2. 2

    Mobilize

    First 90 days: governance, portfolio, program setup and first quick wins.

  3. 3

    Execute

    Months 4–12: scale use cases, run fluency and adoption, open new revenue.

  4. 4

    Transition

    Hand over to your own AI leadership, with optional ongoing advice.

The first 90 days.

Days 1–30

Listen and assess

  • Meet leadership and key teams
  • Review strategy, portfolio and risks
  • Agree priorities and success measures
Days 31–60

Decide and set up

  • Transformation office and cadence
  • AI policy and governance approved
  • Fluency for leaders launched
Days 61–90

Deliver first wins

  • First use cases live with owners
  • Champions network started
  • First report to the board

By day 90: a running program, first value delivered, and a board that knows what comes next.

Tailored to your stage and ambition.

Advisory

About 2 days a month

  • Board and leadership adviser
  • Portfolio and investment decisions
  • Quarterly board briefings

Embedded

About 1 day a week

  • Leads the AI program
  • Runs steering and governance
  • Drives fluency and adoption

Transformation

2 or more days a week

  • Runs the transformation office
  • Several workstreams in parallel
  • Specialists from our network

A monthly retainer, scoped with you. Time commitments are indicative; typical duration 6–12 months.

Progress you can see.

  • Value delivered

    Savings and revenue from live use cases

  • Use cases in production

    From idea to daily use

  • Adoption

    Active users and frequency of use

  • Fluency

    People trained, by level

  • Risk and compliance

    Use cases assessed, policies in place

  • Speed

    Time from idea to production

CadenceWeekly sponsor check-inMonthly steeringQuarterly board briefing

Why the Value AI Institute.

A fractional leader backed by an independent team, with the right expertise when you need it.

01

Neutrality

We are not tied to any technology vendor, so our recommendations serve your interests only.

02

Experienced practitioners

Senior practitioners who have led technology, go-to-market and delivery at global scale, and know what it takes to turn plans into results.

03

Time to value

We focus on what can deliver results quickly, without losing sight of the long-term vision.

04

A wider network

Access to a global network of leaders, convened every year in Davos during the World Economic Forum and in New York during UNGA and Climate Week.

Who delivers the service.

Both offerings are delivered by the Value AI Institute's core team, working with a network of experienced specialist practitioners and supported by our Chairs and our Advisory Board.

Client voice

“I was highly impressed by the quality of delivery and the speed with which meaningful outcomes were achieved, and with minimal disruption to our key stakeholders. The team successfully connected AI value creation across both our internal operations and our growth initiatives.”

Daniele Di Croce, CEO, REALTECH AG

“The Value AI Institute did an excellent assessment of our AI use, needs and potential, and supported us in the first steps of implementation. They were super knowledgeable, tuned in and kind. It was a booster for the organization.”

Katja Iversen, CEO, Museum for the United Nations – UN Live

Questions, answered.

How is the service priced?

As a monthly retainer, based on the engagement option and time commitment agreed with you.

Do we need the AI Strategy Service first?

No. If you already have a strategy, the CAIO builds on it. If not, the AI Strategy Service can run before or during the CAIO engagement.

How much time does the CAIO spend with us?

Typically from about two days a month (Advisory) to two or more days a week (Transformation). We agree on the right level with you and can adjust it as needs change.

What happens at the end of the engagement?

We plan the transition from the start: we help you build or hire your own AI leadership, hand over the program, and can stay on as an adviser if you wish.

How is our information protected?

All information is handled within our secure Microsoft 365 environment and treated as confidential. We have data processing agreements in place with the tool providers we use, and our full Privacy and Data Security Policy forms part of the engagement agreement. Read our website privacy notice.

Exploring your options?

Book a 30-minute consultation on Microsoft Teams to talk through your goals and which offering fits best.

Already a client?

Use the personal link in your welcome email, or start your onboarding here.