Roma Singhal · fractional strategy director · Sydney
Fractional strategy director
Senior strategy leadership without a full-time hire. As your fractional strategy director, I lead strategy for your agency or brand for a set number of days each week or month, bringing 20+ years across AUNZ, APAC, ASEAN, MENA and India, an EFFIE Gold and experience at Landor & Fitch, Leo Burnett, Ogilvy, McCann, BBDO and VCCP.
What a fractional strategy director does
Leads strategy
Owns the strategic thinking across your clients or brands, from positioning and platforms to creative briefs.
Wins pitches
Shapes the strategic answer for new business pitches, and stands up in the room to present it.
Builds your team
Mentors planners and strategists, and puts simple ways of working in place so the thinking stays strong between my days.
Guards the brand
Keeps brand decisions consistent across campaigns, markets and agencies.
Brings insight
Turns research, data and culture into insight your creative and marketing teams can use.
Advises leadership
A senior voice for founders, CEOs and CMOs on brand, growth and marketing priorities.
Who it suits
- Agencies without a head of strategy, between hires, or needing senior cover for a busy period
- Growing brands and founders who need senior brand thinking but not a full-time executive
- Marketing teams taking a brand into new markets across AUNZ, APAC, ASEAN, MENA or India
How it works
- Free 15-minute call to understand your business, team and priorities.
- Agree the scope: the days each week or month, what I lead, and who I work with.
- First 30 days: I get to know your people, clients and brands, and agree the strategic priorities.
- Ongoing: regular strategy leadership, with a review so the arrangement keeps earning its place.
Prefer a single project instead? See my strategy services and brand consulting.
Fractional strategy leadership
Fractional strategy director, head of strategy or CSO?
The titles vary, the role is the same: senior strategy leadership on a part-time, ongoing basis. Agencies often call it a fractional strategy director or fractional head of strategy. Brands and scale-ups may call it a fractional chief strategy officer or fractional brand strategy lead. Whatever the title, you get a senior strategist who owns the thinking, leads the team and stays with you over time.
Versus a freelance strategist
A freelance strategist usually works brief by brief. A fractional director owns strategy over months and builds your team.
Versus a full-time hire
Senior experience for a fraction of the cost and commitment, and you can scale days up or down.
Versus a fractional CMO
A fractional CMO runs marketing overall. A fractional strategy director leads brand, creative and pitch strategy.
Fractional strategy director FAQs
What is a fractional strategy director?
A senior strategist who leads strategy for your business part-time, on an ongoing basis. You get the experience of a strategy director for a fraction of the cost and commitment of a full-time hire.
How is this different from a freelance strategist?
A freelance or project strategist usually works brief by brief. A fractional strategy director is part of your leadership, owns strategy over time and helps build your team.
Do you also take on project work?
Yes. I work by project too, from brand strategy and pitches to insights and workshops.
Can you work remotely?
Yes. I am based in Sydney and work in person or remotely with teams across AUNZ, APAC, ASEAN, MENA and India.
How much does a fractional strategy director cost?
It depends on the number of days each week or month and what I lead. It typically costs far less than a full-time senior hire. Book a free 15-minute call and I’ll suggest a scope and quote.
When should an agency hire a fractional strategy lead?
When you have no head of strategy, are between hires, are pitching more than your team can handle, or need senior strategy for a new client or market.
Do you work with brands as well as agencies?
Yes. I work with agencies, growing brands and founders across AUNZ, APAC, ASEAN, MENA and India.
Read more
Guides from the blog
“Was great working with Roma. Sharp, professional, and delivered fresh thinking – and always, in true form, with a smile.”
Graham Alvarez-Jarratt, Chief Strategy Officer, Leo Burnett, Sydney
EFFIE Gold winner · EFFIE Australia judge · 20+ years at Ogilvy, McCann, BBDO and Publicis Groupe
Need senior strategy leadership?
Let’s talk about what your team needs and whether a fractional role is the right fit.