When it’s time to move from fractional to permanent leadership, the handoff doesn’t have to be risky.
Cedar Collab helps you hire smarter, onboard smoother, and stay supported with continuity long after your new leader takes the reins.
The Challenges of Transitioning to Full-Time Leadership
Bringing in a full-time marketing or growth leader is exciting. But it comes with risk:
Bad Hires Hurt
One wrong hire can cost millions.
Leadership churn is common
In growth roles, turnover is especially high.
Continuity matters
New leaders need time to get up to speed.
The CEO is stretched thin
Hiring decisions add to the load.
Why It Matters
Moving from fractional to full-time leadership isn’t about if. It’s about when. Growth eventually demands it. What matters is how you prepare for that moment.
With Cedar Collab, you don’t have to worry about momentum stalling, systems breaking, or leaders being left without support. We set you up for scale today while giving you the reassurance that tomorrow’s transition will be smooth, structured, and sustainable.
What this means for you:
Confidence in timing
Scale at the right pace, not in a panic.
Continuity through change
Keep growth moving even during leadership transitions.
Support for the whole team
Guidance for both the CEO and the new CMO once they’re onboard.
The Continuity Promise
Cedar Collab doesn’t walk away when you hire a full-time leader. We stay as long as you need, protecting your momentum, mentoring your new executive, and ensuring your growth investment pays off for the long term.
Most fractional execs leave when the handoff is done. We stay.
A Smart Transition to FTE
We guide you through a structured, three-phase model:
1: Build (Fractional CMO)
Clarify story, align systems, and prepare for scale.
2: Hire & Transition
Partner with the CEO to vet candidates, onboard effectively, and protect momentum.
3: Advisory Tail
Stay on at a reduced retainer, mentoring the new leader, serving as a backstop, and ensuring continuity if leadership changes again.
Case Study: A Law Firm’s Risk-Free Transition
A midsize law firm hired its first full-time CMO: someone the managing partner knew personally and trusted. Within months, it became clear the hire wasn’t working out. Campaigns stalled, team morale dipped, and the CEO found himself without a trusted marketing voice at the table.
The solution? They re-engaged their previous fractional CMO to step in temporarily. That advisor helped the CEO craft a job description that reflected the firm’s true needs, guided the search process, and stayed on as a sounding board through interviews and onboarding. Even after a strong new hire was in place, the advisor remained on retainer to mentor the new CMO and provide confidential counsel to the CEO.
The result: smoother onboarding, reduced leadership risk, and the reassurance that growth momentum wouldn’t stall again.
Exclusive Benefits
When you scale with Cedar Collab, you don’t just get strategy: you gain access to discounted execution support so long as we work together.
- Copywriting & campaign support
- Merch & design services
- AI growth tools and automation
- Fractional leadership without the overhead
Frequently Asked Questions
No. We complement them, offering continuity, mentorship, and strategic guidance, without undermining their authority.
Because context and continuity matter. You’re investing in safer, smarter leadership transitions, and an advisory safety net.
Most clients keep us on 6–12 months post-handoff, but some choose to maintain light advisory retainer leadership for years.
Don’t gamble on your next big growth leader. Let’s make the transition smoother, smarter, and safer.