Fractional Executive Services
Sometimes a business doesn't need a full-time hire. It needs someone who has done it before, can see the problem clearly, and can get things moving.
Fractional executive engagements give you access to senior leadership experience — without the cost, commitment, or calendar overhead of a full-time C-suite role. You get strategic thinking, hands-on execution, and someone who has built and led teams across some of the most demanding environments in global business.
Three decades of marketing, digital, and customer experience leadership across telecoms, industrial, safety, software, and consumer sectors. B2C, B2B, B2G, and everything in between. Start-ups, turnarounds, and enterprise transformation programmes at scale.
I've been in the room when industries got disrupted — telecoms, enterprise software, connected devices — and I've helped organisations find their footing when the old playbook stopped working.
At 3M, I built the company's enterprise Customer Experience Improvement System from scratch — a 1,000-person NPS implementation across 70+ countries, recognised as best-in-class by NPS pioneer Fred Reichheld. Before that, as Chief Digital Officer, I pivoted a 200-strong team to transform 3M's multi-billion dollar global e-commerce footprint. As founder and General Manager of Connected Safety, I led a risk-capital investment programme that brought the division into digital services — building IP, closing venture investments, and bringing a cloud-based product to market.
Before 3M, I ran BT's most successful internet investment globally — building a 60-person team, capturing 25% of the Irish consumer internet market within three months, and building the first £1M internet advertising business in Ireland.
Designing and implementing systems that turn customer feedback into strategic action. Building the infrastructure, governance, and team capability to make CX a genuine growth driver rather than a reporting exercise.
Transforming digital presence from brochureware to revenue engine. Global deployment experience across B2B and B2C, with deep expertise in SEO, marketing automation, CRM, and partner digital experience.
Senior marketing leadership for companies that need strategic direction, team building, and execution capability — without a full-time hire. Particular strength in mid-market businesses navigating growth, repositioning, or category disruption.
Practical implementation of AI tools in marketing workflows — not slides and frameworks, but working systems. Three years at the frontier of AI-enabled marketing, building real products and processes.
For new products, new markets, or businesses that have lost the thread of why customers should choose them. Grounded in a simple but hard-won principle: figure out why your customers will buy from you, now and in the future — then build everything around that answer.
Early-stage commercial leadership for businesses entering new markets or building new categories. M&A pipeline development, venture investment, first customer acquisition.
Engagements are scoped to fit the problem — a focused sprint, a part-time ongoing role, or a defined project with a clear deliverable. No retainers for the sake of retainers. No overhead. Direct access to the person doing the work.
Typically 1–3 days per week, or a defined project scope. Based in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area; work with clients nationally and internationally.
"What separates Hugh from many other senior leaders is a combination of entrepreneurial spirit, no BS approach, deep understanding of digital technology, superb communication and people skills."
— Chuck Stobbie, VP Martech & Digital Experience, 3M
If you have a growth problem, a stuck project, or a strategic question that keeps not getting answered — get in touch.