Fractional CTO · Brand Agencies
Fractional CTO
for Brand Agencies
Technical leadership for agencies building the digital expression of brand identities.
Brand agencies build identities that live online — microsites, campaign platforms, brand portals, digital guidelines systems. The digital expression of a brand is now as important as the visual identity. And it requires technical decisions — platform choices, content architecture, access controls — that most brand agencies aren't equipped to make in-house.
Where I help most
The problems brand agencies hire a fractional CTO to solve.
Brand portal and digital guidelines platforms
A brand portal isn't a website. It's a platform that houses a design system, manages asset access, enforces usage guidelines, and serves multiple user types. Getting the architecture right from the start means clients don't outgrow it in two years.
Campaign microsite delivery
High-profile campaign launches with aggressive timelines and performance expectations. A fractional CTO defines the build standard, reviews the architecture, and ensures the team isn't cutting corners under deadline pressure.
Moving from campaign into platform
Brand agencies that want to retain clients long-term need to move from one-off campaign builds to platform ownership. That's a different engagement model, a different team structure, and a different technical practice. A fractional CTO designs the transition.
Background
26 years building and leading digital at agency level.
I've worked at agencies where brand and technology intersect closely — from large-scale brand platform builds at AKQA and Critical Mass to digital identity work at AnalogFolk — and I've seen what it takes to make that transition from campaign to platform.
Full background →How I work with agencies
Fractional CTO Retainer
Ongoing technical leadership — strategy, architecture, team oversight — typically 2–4 days per week.
Fixed-Scope Project
Tech audits, architecture reviews, and specific deliverables with a defined timeline and fixed price.
AI Development Workshop
Two-day in-person workshop where your team builds AI agents for your development lifecycle.
Technical Due Diligence
Independent assessment of a codebase, team, or platform — for investors, acquirers, or founders.
Ready to talk?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. We'll talk through your agency's technical situation and I'll tell you honestly whether I can help.