An interim CMO is slightly different than a fractional CMO – even if a fractional CMO can fullfil an interim CMO role as well. An interim CMO is an executive brought in, usually full-time, for a short period of time (less than six months) to manage a marketing department while a company is searching for a permanent replacement. Generally, companies will either temporarily promote an existing resource into this role or contract a fractional CMO company to fulfil this role so that a marketing department can continue delivering on specific tasks while the search for a permanent replacement is ongoing.