Top Interim & Fractional Chief People Officer Consultants, Consulting Firms, & Companies
As organizations grow, having the right leadership in different areas becomes crucial. Interim and fractional Chief People Officers (CPOs) provide invaluable support during transitions, using their expertise to guide businesses through periods of growth, restructuring, or crisis management.
Interim and fractional CPOs come into play when a company is experiencing a gap in HR leadership or requires specialized skills for a particular project. These experts bring deep knowledge of talent management, organizational development, and employee engagement, and their flexibility allows organizations to access high-level expertise without the long-term commitment of a full-time hire.
When choosing an interim or fractional CPO, consider the specific challenges your organization faces. Look for a consultant with experience relevant to your industry and the particular issues you are addressing, whether it’s scaling your workforce, improving diversity initiatives, or managing a major organizational shift.
To help you get started on your search, we’ve put together a list of the best fractional and interim CPOs and consultants out there.
TL;DR Top 10 Interim & Fractional Chief People Officer Consultants, Consulting Firms, & Companies
People Masterminds: People Masterminds delivers flexible, high-level People & Culture leadership for growing businesses through fractional HR services
Harpal Singh: Harpal Singh provides fractional CPO services based on expert product strategy and leadership to help companies scale and commercialize digital products without requiring a full-time product executive
HR Soul: HR Soul helps businesses access executive-level HR support to manage growth and culture without long-term contracts
Annissa Deshpande: Annissa Deshpande, an advisor at FutureSolve, brings extensive HR expertise to help businesses develop innovative people strategies with a focus on leadership development and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Felicia Shakiba: Felicia Shakiba, an expert in performance management and DEI, provides fractional CPO services through Cowen Partners and CPO PLAYBOOK
People Masterminds offers fractional HR services that provide flexible, high-level People & Culture leadership without the need for full-time commitments. Specializing in scale-ups and fast-growing businesses, their fractional leaders step in to handle HR challenges like team growth, organizational restructuring, and leadership development.
Key Services:
Fractional Chief People Officer (CPO)
Interim HR leadership
People & Culture strategy
Leadership development and team scaling
Why Work with People Masterminds?
Their team of experienced People & Culture leaders brings a wealth of knowledge from international companies and offers strategic solutions that align HR with your business goals.
Harpal Singh is an experienced Chief Product Officer (CPO) and strategic product leader with a background in Human-Computer Interaction and Computer Science from top institutions like University College London and the University of Oxford. Over the past decade, he has worked in leadership roles for various tech companies, including startups and large enterprises, helping them build, scale, and commercialize digital products. Harpal’s expertise includes product strategy, user experience, and team building, and he has worked with companies in sectors such as AI, eCommerce, and marketing technologies.
Key Services:
Fractional CPO services
Product strategy and lifecycle management
Team building and leadership coaching
Customer experience and design sprints
Roadmap creation and market positioning
Why Work with Harpal Singh?
Harpal brings over 15 years of hands-on experience in building digital products, guiding organizations through complex challenges, and driving growth. His flexible, results-focused approach allows companies to benefit from C-level expertise without the full-time commitment.
HR Soul is a specialized consulting firm focused on providing Fractional CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer) and CPO (Chief People Officer) services. Their approach allows businesses to access executive-level HR support without the commitment of a full-time hire. They help organizations drive growth, build their culture, and manage complex people-related challenges.
Key Services:
Fractional CHRO/CPO services
Leadership coaching
Talent management and strategy
Organizational culture consulting
Why Work with HR Soul?
They offer top-tier HR leadership on a flexible, cost-effective basis, so businesses can scale their people strategies without long-term contracts.
Annissa Deshpande is an advisor at FutureSolve, where she draws on her extensive background in Human Resources and leadership to help organizations develop their people strategies and scale through innovative HR strategies. Annissa is also a strong advocate for creating inclusive work environments and has helped businesses transform their cultures to support diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Key Services:
Strategic HR consulting
Leadership development programs
Diversity and inclusion strategies
Workforce transformation
Why Work with Annissa Deshpande?
Annissa offers a unique combination of HR expertise and business acumen to drive both people and business growth.
Felicia Shakiba is the Interim and Fractional Chief People Officer at Cowen Partners and the founder of CPO PLAYBOOK, a global HR consulting firm. She has nearly 20 years of experience in people strategy and talent management across various industries. Felicia is known for her expertise in performance management, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), total rewards, and people analytics. She focuses on talent management strategies for CEOs and venture capital firms.
Key Services:
Leadership and talent management consulting
Performance management strategy
DEI initiatives
People analytics and rewards
Why Work with Felicia Shakiba?
With her deep HR experience, Felicia helps organizations drive growth and improving organizational culture through strategic HR solutions.
6. Bale Coaching & Consulting
Bale Coaching & Consulting, led by Nikki Bale, offers HR consulting with a focus on Fractional Chief People Officer (CPO) services. Their Fractional CPO offering provides businesses with flexible and tailored HR leadership without the overhead of a full-time hire. These services are particularly valuable for organizations dealing with growth, transitions, or culture shifts.
Key Services:
Fractional Chief People Officer
Leadership development
Organizational culture transformation
Facilitated workshops and offsite team-building
Executive coaching
Why Work with Bale Coaching & Consulting?
Bale Coaching & Consulting provides a flexible, cost-effective alternative to full-time HR leadership. By offering part-time or project-based CPO services, they deliver high-level HR expertise while adapting to the specific needs of each organization.
7. Eclat Global
Eclat Global offers Fractional Chief People Officer (CPO) services, providing part-time or project-based HR leadership to help businesses align their human resources strategies with their overall business goals. Their Fractional CPOs are seasoned professionals who support companies through various challenges, including leadership development, talent management, and organizational culture transformation.
Key Services:
HR strategy development for growth
Talent management and leadership coaching
Post-merger integration
Organizational effectiveness assessments
HR policy and process development
Why Work with Eclat Global?
Eclat Global combines HR leadership with strategic insights to help businesses unlock their full potential without breaking the bank.
8. Be Legendary
Be Legendary provides Fractional Chief People Officer (CPO) services designed to offer small businesses access to high-level HR leadership on a part-time basis. Their fractional CPOs help companies create strategies to attract, retain, and develop top talent while aligning HR processes with business growth.
Key Services:
Talent optimization
Culture development
Strategic planning
Leadership development
Employee experience consulting
Why Work with Be Legendary?
Be Legendary provides expertise across a wide range of HR functions at a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive. Their unique approach, supported by a team of experts, ensures that businesses receive HR solutions that promote growth, improve employee morale, and boost productivity.
9. Agile Executives
Agile Executives specializes in fractional Chief HR and People Officer services. Their team of experienced professionals helps businesses with strategic planning, talent acquisition, and organizational development. Agile Executives focuses on helping businesses build a robust HR framework to support long-term growth.
Key Services:
Fractional Chief HR Officer services
Talent acquisition and management strategies
Organizational design and development
Leadership and culture transformation
Compliance and risk management
Why Work with Agile Executives?
Agile Executives provides flexible, scalable solutions for businesses looking to improve their people operations while maintaining financial efficiency.
10. Talent Realized
Talent Realized’s approach allows businesses to access senior-level HR expertise without the cost of a full-time executive. Talent Realized focuses on integrating talent management, culture development, and leadership strategies into overall company goals. Their fractional CPO services are ideal for growing businesses that need flexible, top-tier HR guidance.
Key Services:
Fractional CPO services
Talent strategy and management
Organizational culture development
Executive coaching and leadership development
HR compliance and risk management
Why Work with Talent Realized?
Talent Realized offers businesses access to experienced HR leadership, helping them scale effectively by aligning people strategies with business goals.
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing An Interim Or Fractional Chief People Officer
Here are some of the most important factors to pay attention to when looking for an interim or fractional CPO.
Industry Expertise: Make sure the consultant or firm has experience in your industry specificallu
Cultural Fit: The interim or fractional Chief People Officer should mesh with your company culture to lead your HR strategy effectively
Track Record of Success: Look for a history of successfully implementing people strategies, including talent management, leadership development, and organizational change
Strategic Insight: They should provide not only operational HR support but also strategic guidance
Cost-Effectiveness: Does your chosen partner fit within your budget?
What Interim or Fractional Chief People Officer will you choose?
Finding the right Interim or Fractional Chief People Officer is a decision that can shape the future success of your HR strategy. Whether you need short-term leadership during a transition or specialized expertise, you should take the time to make sure you connect with the right professional for you.