Fractional executives, including fractional CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and CIOs, are the hottest thing in the C-suite. What started as a niche workaround has gone mainstream, with companies from fast-scaling startups to Fortune 500s tapping part-time leaders for big-impact roles.

These aren’t consultants or advisors; they’re deeply embedded executives, delivering high-level strategy, leadership, and results without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.

But what exactly is a fractional executive? How is this different from an interim or full-time hire? And when does it make sense to go fractional in the first place?

A whopping 262 CFOs left their jobs globally in 2025, continuing a multi-year trend of high turnover. In the S&P 500 alone, CFO turnover surged to a record 106 appointments in 2025, up sharply from 89 the year prior. The pace cooled a bit in Q1 2026, but remains well above historical norms.

According to the management consulting firm Russel Reynolds Associates, which keeps track of CFO comings and goings,”even big public companies are at risk of CFO turnover, whether by resignation, retirement, or termination.”

In the first quarter of 2026:

• 89 CFOs were appointed globally, down from 95 in Q1 2025, the first Q1 YoY decline in CFO appointments since 2022.
• 6.6 percent of S&P 500 companies appointed a new CFO, on par with Q1 2025 record levels.
• Nearly half of newly appointed CFOs were external appointments, a Q1 high.
• Interim CFOs accounted for 12% of newly appointed hires in Q1 2026, up from 6% in 2025, suggesting more organizations are relying on temporary finance leadership while they manage unplanned departures or extend the search for a permanent successor.

SEC Filings and Beyond

Historically, the workload of a CFO at a public company was focused on compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission filings, best accounting practices, and financial reporting.

Today, Chief Financial Officers — whether they work at a public company or a private one — need far more than stellar accounting skills.

As Russell Reynolds put it: “Organizations faced greater pressure to communicate through uncertainty — on performance, outlook, and fast-evolving topics such as tariffs and AI — putting a premium on CFOs who can articulate the path forward in high-stakes forums.”

Boards and CEOs want CFOs who can operate as strategic thought partners, build confidence with investors and the board, and lead through volatility and transformation, the consulting firm says.

Change is Not New

The role of the CFO has evolved over the last two decades, due to the accelerated pace of the digital age. Today, a CFO must not only understand a business from start to finish to provide financial excellence, but also must predict what is coming from a strategic standpoint and be ready to evolve.

The hardships that came with the 2008 recession pushed CFOs to serve in a more strategic role, one that focuses on people, strategy, and externally focused communication.

As Deborah O’Connor, a veteran CFO who was named Executive Vice President and CFO of ACCO Brands in 2022, said at a pre-pandemic event hosted by the National Association of Corporate Directors: the “CFO of 10 years ago is the Controller of today.”

Great CFOs cross borders as well, whether private, public, private equity-backed, or family-owned. O’Connor said that while you might have different constituencies in each of those types of organizations, the foundation is the same: controls have to be in place, good projections must be forecast, decisions on prioritization must be made.

Most importantly, a successful CFO must bond with the CEO, empowering them to take the charge forward in a positive direction.

How to Find the Right CFO for Your Company

In a perfect world, every organization would have a well-thought-out succession plan that would be activated when a CFO resigns, retires, or is promoted. But this is a far from perfect world. Only 16% of CFOs told Russell Reynolds that their organization has a proactive succession plan in place.

Even if there is a plan in place, chances are strong there will be a financial leadership gap.

The implication for companies is clear: CFO turnover is no longer an occasional disruption, it’s an ongoing reality. With leadership transitions happening more frequently and often with little warning, organizations that lack a clear succession or contingency plan are increasingly exposed. This is where interim CFO leadership becomes critical, providing stability, continuity, and experienced financial oversight during periods of transition.

Here’s how to know when to bring in an experienced, vetted interim CFO is the right person to bridge that leadership gap:

How an Interim CFO Can Help

A high-quality interim CFO can immediately jump in to provide a fresh outside perspective to assess the organization and team and create a roadmap to keep forward movement. An interim can also identify what is needed in the next full-time CFO, assist with the CFO search or mentor a team member internally to eventually step into the role.

“It’s a calming notion to have someone come in and fill the seat so the seat is not empty for very long. It gives people someone to look up to, to talk to and share their anxieties with,” says Interim CFO Larry Firestone, who has led companies from startup to a $500 million public energy company.

Larry is an experienced Chief Financial Officer on InterimExecs’ RED Team, an elite team of top CFOs and other C-suite leaders who bring a variety of industry experience in growing and turning around companies.

He has seen operations come to a halt when the CFO role goes vacant. “An Interim CFO is a senior executive that has seasoning and talent and experience that the team can relate to,” he says. “They calm everyone down, and it’s really about keeping the company moving and running the way it should.

Most interim appointments last for eight months, though can range anywhere from a few months to several years. CFOs on InterimExecs RED Team are experts at stepping in during periods of transition, and stay on until a new full-time hire is onboarded and ready to take over.

In some cases, companies ask our experienced interim execs to stay on the job for a short time to mentor the new hire through those first few months and ensure a smooth handoff.

Which Public Company CFOs Resigned, Retired, or Were Promoted Recently?

Companies that changed CFOs in 2025 include:

• Starbucks: Appointed a new CFO in 2025 following the installation of Brian Niccol as CEO in September 2024.
• Boeing: Announced a CFO transition in 2025 as part of broader leadership changes following a CEO transition.
• UnitedHealth: Named a new finance chief in 2025.
• Lockheed Martin: Appointed an internal candidate to the CFO role in the first half of 2025.
• Automatic Data Processing (ADP): Filled its CFO seat with an internal veteran in early 2025.
• Jack in the Box: Promoted an insider to CFO in 2025. 

Read More

• When Should You Hire a CFO?
• Fractional vs. Interim vs. Full-Time CFO: What’s the Right Fit for Your Company?

Not every company needs a full-time CIO (Chief Information Officer). But nearly every company needs smart, strategic technology leadership.

Enter the fractional CIO — a senior executive who brings years of tech and business experience to your company on a part-time or project basis. Whether you’re scaling fast, modernizing outdated IT infrastructure, preparing for a sale, or looking for IT to fuel your business growth, a fractional CIO gives you the leadership you need — without the full-time overhead.

So, you’re scrolling through LinkedIn or looking at an org chart and you see “Acting VP of Whatever” or “Acting CEO.” What’s the real deal there?

In a public company, “acting” or “interim” almost always says the same thing: “We’re in between permanent hires.” But look a little deeper and you may find some significant differences between one acting executive and another.

So you’ve decided to bring in an interim executive. Perhaps you need to temporarily fill a leadership role while you conduct a thorough search for a new permanent hire. Or maybe you need an experienced leader to spearhead a new initiative or helm the launch of a new product. Or maybe your company is in crisis and you need a turnaround expert to right the ship.

Whatever the reason you have chosen to bring on an interim executive, you are about to work with someone who works differently. That’s because interims are wired for action.

Here are 11 things to expect from an interim executive during their first 30 days on the job.