Fractional Chief AI Officer
Build a clear 90-day AI operating plan with governance, prioritization, and executive accountability — without hiring a full-time Chief AI Officer. Richard McKellar embeds as your senior AI operator and delivers measurable ROI.
The Problem
Pressure to Act on AI Without a Clear Plan
Most AI initiatives stall because there is no operating model, no ownership, and no way to measure results. A Fractional CAIO fixes that.
Stalled Pilots
AI pilots don't scale without a repeatable operating model and clear ownership across teams.
CFO Skepticism
Without measurable ROI, AI is treated as cost, not an investment. The budget gets cut.
Wrong Priorities
Teams prioritize tools and demos over business-critical use cases that drive real impact.
No Framework
Without a defined framework, AI efforts stay disconnected and fail to scale across the organization.
The Approach
Build Sustainable AI Capability Without Consultant Dependency
Sustainable AI capability requires ownership, governance, and a repeatable operating model. Not tools. Not vendors. Internal leadership.
Executive Ownership
AI sits at the executive level with clear decision rights and accountability — not buried in IT.
Operating Model
Adoption follows a repeatable system with defined governance, ownership, and scale paths.
Financial Discipline
Every AI initiative is tied to measurable ROI and clear decision gates the CFO can defend.
Corporate AI Transformation
The C.A.P.™ Operating Model: A Repeatable AI System
Mid-market companies don't need more AI experiments. They need a repeatable operating system. The C.A.P.™ Model delivers measurable results in 90-day cycles by aligning governance, ownership, and ROI from day one.
Stand Up the Executive AI Council
Define decision rights, baseline current state, and establish the governance charter. Executive sponsorship is locked before a single model is deployed.
Prioritize the Roadmap
Rank use cases by business impact and feasibility. Build the 90-day plan with clear owners, success metrics, and decision gates.
Deploy, Measure, Scale
Ship the first high-impact workflows, report measured ROI, and transfer ownership to your team so capability compounds without outside dependency.
What's Included
A Full Chief AI Officer Function, Fractionally
Executive AI Council
Stand up and run the governance body with defined decision rights.
AI Strategy & Roadmap
A prioritized 90-day plan tied to revenue and operational impact.
Governance & Risk Framework
Policy, data handling, and vendor controls the board can sign off on.
Use-Case Prioritization
Rank initiatives by impact and feasibility so spend follows value.
ROI Measurement & Reporting
Quarterly business reviews with defensible, decision-gated ROI.
Workforce Enablement
Training and adoption playbooks so your team owns the system.
Who It's For
Built for Mid-Market Operators
Manufacturers
Mid-market manufacturing ready to operationalize AI on the floor and in the back office.
Professional Services
Firms that need leverage without headcount — faster delivery, lower overhead.
PE-Backed Portcos
Portfolio companies under mandate to scale efficiently with measurable ROI.
Family Offices & Funds
Operators who want an AI operating model without building a full-time team.
Available across NJ · NYC · FL · CT · MA · MD
Investment
Transparent Pricing, Clear Outcomes
Engagements typically start at $5,000 per 90-day cycle. Every engagement includes a measurable ROI outcome tied to decision gates.
Start with a $999 AI Audit
Not sure if CAIO is right? The $999 AI Audit covers 1 workflow in 1 system over 5-7 days. You get a findings doc with a clear recommendation.
Book AI AuditCompare: CAIO vs FDE
The CAIO sets strategy and governance. The FDE builds and ships. See which path fits your situation.
Compare CAIO vs FDE →Why Fractional
Executive Capability at a Fraction of the Cost
No Full-Time Hire
Six-figure salary, long ramp, uncertain fit — skipped. You get the operating model, not the headcount.
Operator, Not Slideware
Richard embeds, builds, and transfers ownership. You are not left dependent on a retainer.
Defensible ROI
Every initiative ties to a number the CFO and board can defend at the next review.
How It Works
From Briefing to Measurable ROI in 4 Steps
Executive Briefing
A 45-minute working session to map pressure points and quick wins.
Assessment & Charter
Baseline the current state and stand up the executive AI council.
90-Day Operating Plan
Prioritized roadmap with owners, metrics, and decision gates.
Deploy & Measure
Ship workflows, report ROI, and transfer ownership to your team.
Put a Chief AI Officer in the room — fractionally.
Schedule an executive briefing and leave with a clear picture of your first 90-day AI operating plan.
© 2026 McKellar.dev · Morristown, NJ
Consulting Practice for Artificial Intelligence Adoption & MCA Platforms