How much does a Fractional CTO cost compared to a full-time CTO?

A full-time CTO in California costs $415,000–$635,000+ in Year 1, including base salary ($250K–$340K), bonus and equity ($50K–$120K), benefits and payroll taxes (~$75K–$100K), and recruiting fees ($40K–$75K). A fractional engagement with Raymond Weale starts from $5,000/month ($60,000/year), with no recruiting delay, no benefits overhead, and no equity dilution.

What industries does Raymond Weale serve?

Raymond Weale provides Fractional CTO/CIO services primarily to healthcare and medical services companies (including multi-location practices and occupational medicine networks), growth-stage and acquisitive businesses, consumer goods and retail companies, and aviation and travel organizations. He is based in Carlsbad, California and serves Southern California and beyond.

How quickly can a fractional CTO engagement begin?

A fractional CTO engagement with Raymond Weale can begin within days. The process starts with a no-cost, no-obligation 2-week Discovery Session that maps all active vendor initiatives, identifies integration risks, and delivers a governance plan — before any financial commitment is required. Compare this to hiring a full-time CTO, which typically takes 3–6 months to recruit, negotiate, and onboard.

Does Raymond Weale have healthcare technology experience?

Yes. Raymond Weale has extensive experience in healthcare technology, including EMR integration, HIPAA compliance, patient engagement platforms, no-show reduction technology, and multi-location operational systems. He currently serves healthcare clients in Southern California through MARRA Global.

Fractional CTO · For Growth-Stage CEOs

Your Vendors Are
Making Promises.
Who's Holding
Them Accountable?

Q: What is a Fractional CTO?

A Fractional CTO (Chief Technology Officer) is an experienced technology executive who works with a company on a part-time or contract basis, providing the same strategic leadership as a full-time CTO at a fraction of the cost. They manage vendor relationships, set technology strategy, govern data and integrations, and ensure technology investments deliver real business results.

Q: Why do technology projects fail without strategic oversight?

Research shows 85–95% of AI and technology projects fail without strategic oversight in place from Day 1. The most common causes are poor data governance, lack of vendor accountability, inadequate change management, and the compounding risk of running multiple simultaneous implementations without integrated program management.

When you're scaling fast — adding locations, adopting AI tools, modernizing operations — every vendor says their implementation is seamless. The reality: 85–95% of technology projects fail without independent strategic oversight. You need a seasoned executive in your corner.

25+

Years Leading
Technology

Continents
& Industries

Cost to
Get Started

Start With a Free Discovery See the ROI

Raymond WealeFractional CTO · CIO

The Real Cost of Technology Leadership

Full-Time CTO — Base SalaryCalifornia market, experienced hire$250K–$340K/yr

Bonuses & EquityTypical executive comp add-ons$50K–$120K/yr

Benefits, Payroll Tax & Overhead~30% employer burden on base$75K–$100K/yr

Recruiting & OnboardingExecutive search fees, ramp time$40K–$75K one-time

Full-Time CTO — Total Year 1$415K–$635K+

Fractional CTO with Raymond WealeFull executive capability, immediate startFrom $5,000/month

✓ No recruiting delay · ✓ No benefits overhead · ✓ No equity dilution

Built for CEOs Like You

You Didn't Build This Company
to Babysit Software Vendors.

You're running the business. But every technology decision has consequences — missed deadlines, bad data, systems that don't talk to each other, vendors who move the goalposts. Here's what growth-stage CEOs tell us:

"My vendors each say they'll handle everything. How do I know if that's actually true?"

Without an independent technology executive, you're evaluating performance based solely on what vendors report about themselves. Raymond provides objective oversight — sitting above every vendor relationship and measuring results, not promises.

"We're running multiple implementations at once. I'm worried things are falling through the cracks."

Simultaneous implementations create compounding risk — integration conflicts, data quality issues, competing timelines. Raymond coordinates everything as a single, unified program so initiatives reinforce each other instead of colliding.

"I can't justify a $400K+ CTO salary at this stage, but I know I need the expertise."

That's precisely why the fractional model exists. You get C-suite technology leadership — with 25+ years of global enterprise experience — for a fraction of a full-time hire, with no recruiting delay, no benefits overhead, and no equity dilution.

"We're adopting AI and new tools, but I don't know if our data is good enough to trust."

Bad data is the single biggest reason AI projects fail. Raymond establishes proper data governance from Day 1 — so every system making decisions for your business is working from accurate, validated information.

"My team isn't adopting the new tools. We paid for the software but it's not getting used."

Technology projects fail at the human layer as often as the technical layer. Raymond designs and drives the change management plan — communication, training, adoption tracking — so your investment actually changes how people work.

"We're growing through acquisition. How do I make sure our tech stack scales with us?"

Acquisitive growth means integrating systems, teams, and data across new entities under time pressure. Raymond builds the architecture and strategic plan that keeps technology an accelerant — not a bottleneck — as you scale.

Why Raymond

25 Years of Enterprise
Battle-Testing.
None of the Theory.

Raymond has led technology programs at the world's largest companies — managing global teams, navigating complex vendor relationships, and delivering results on four continents. He brings that same rigor to growth-stage businesses in Southern California.

He's Done This Before — At Scale

22 years at Nestlé implementing SAP, Salesforce, and eCommerce globally. CTO at Etihad Airways driving digital transformation for 20 million loyalty members. He's navigated every type of technology challenge you're likely to face.

He's Independent — Not a Vendor

Raymond has no financial relationship with the vendors he oversees. He works for you. Every recommendation, every performance review, every escalation is in your interest — not a vendor's commission.

He Speaks CEO — Not Just Tech

Raymond translates complex technology decisions into business outcomes: risk, cost, competitive advantage. You get clarity, not jargon. Board-ready reporting. Strategic advice you can actually act on.

Powered by The MARRA Way™

MARRA Global's proven program management methodology provides the framework behind every engagement — integrating data governance, change management, and vendor accountability as a cohesive system rather than isolated projects.

Career Track Record

NESTLÉ

Nestlé

22 Years · Progressive Technology Leadership

USA & Vevey, Switzerland (Global HQ) · World's Largest Food & Beverage Co.

ETIHAD

Etihad Airways

CTO · Digital Innovation & Customer Experience

Abu Dhabi, UAE · 20M Frequent Flyer Members

MARRA GLOBAL

MARRA Global

Fractional CTO / CIO · Technology Advisory

Southern California · Healthcare, Services & Growth-Stage Businesses

UK·CH·UAE·USA

Global Delivery Experience

SAP · Salesforce · EMR · eCommerce · Cloud Architecture

United Kingdom · USA · Switzerland · United Arab Emirates

What You Get

Six Areas of Coverage.
One Point of Accountability.

Rather than managing six vendors, six consultants, and six sets of priorities — you have one experienced executive coordinating all of it. Here's what's covered:

Vendor Management & Accountability

Independent oversight of every vendor — holding them to outcomes, not just go-live dates. Objective performance reviews, escalation management, and contract enforcement on your behalf.

Active from Day 1

Data Governance & Quality

Validates the integrity of your data before and during every integration. The foundation of every AI and digital initiative — without it, every downstream decision your business makes is at risk.

Active from Day 1

Program Management

Coordinates all technology initiatives as one cohesive program — tracking dependencies, resolving conflicts, and managing timelines across every implementation simultaneously.

Scales with complexity

Change Management & Adoption

Designs and executes the communication, training, and adoption plan across all your locations. Makes sure your people actually use what you're paying for.

ROI protection

Technical Architecture & Integration

Ensures every system — EMR, billing, ERP, CRM, AI tools — connects properly and securely. Prevents the costly technical debt that comes from rushed or siloed implementations.

SAP · Salesforce · EMR · Cloud

Technology Roadmap & Advisory

Builds a technology roadmap aligned to your growth goals. Gives you board-ready visibility into where your technology is heading — and why it will support your next phase of expansion.

CEO-level reporting

How It Works

Up and Running
in Days, Not Months.

Recruiting a full-time CTO takes 3–6 months. Raymond can be operational within days. The engagement starts with zero cost and zero obligation.

Free Discovery Session

A focused 2-week assessment — we map every active vendor initiative, identify integration risks, and surface what you don't yet know. Zero cost, zero obligation.

Governance Plan Delivered

You receive a clear, actionable plan showing what needs to happen, in what order, and who owns it — before you commit to anything.

Engagement Activates

Vendor oversight and data governance are in place immediately. Program management and change management scale as your implementations intensify.

You Focus on Growth

Regular CEO-level briefings — risks, progress, decisions needed. Raymond handles the technology complexity so you can run the business.

The ROI Conversation

What Does a Technology
Failure Actually Cost You?

Every failed or delayed technology project carries a real business cost — lost productivity, rework, vendor disputes, missed competitive windows. A single prevented failure typically covers an entire year of engagement fees many times over.

3×

Adding governance after implementations are underway costs an average of 3× more than establishing it from Day 1. Raymond starts with the critical foundations — vendor accountability and data governance — immediately, before problems become crises.

Full-Time CTO vs. Fractional Engagement

Cost Component	Full-Time CTO	Fractional CTO
Base Salary / Fees	$250K–$340K/yr	From $60K/yr
Bonus & Equity	$50K–$120K/yr	None
Benefits & Payroll Tax	$75K–$100K/yr	None
Recruiting & Search Fees	$40K–$75K one-time	None
Time to Productive	3–6 months	Days
Experience Level	Market dependent	25+ yrs, global
Year 1 Total Cost	$415K–$635K+	From $60K/yr

Full-time CTO figures based on 2025–2026 California market data. Fractional engagement scales to the complexity of your program.

Industries

Deep Experience in
the Industries That Matter.

🏥

Healthcare & Medical Services

Multi-location practices, occupational medicine, and healthcare services networks. EMR integration, HIPAA compliance, patient engagement technology, and operational efficiency.

✈️

Aviation & Travel

Customer experience transformation and digital innovation at scale. Former CTO at Etihad Airways, responsible for digital strategy serving 20 million frequent flyer members.

🏭

Consumer Goods & Retail

22 years delivering enterprise technology at Nestlé — global SAP, Salesforce, and eCommerce transformation across the USA, Switzerland, and international markets.

📈

Growth-Stage & Acquisitive Businesses

CEOs scaling through acquisition face compounding technology risk. Raymond builds the architecture and governance that ensures your technology grows with your ambition — not against it.

Common Questions

Questions CEOs Ask
Before Engaging.

Straight answers — no sales spin. These are the questions growth-stage CEOs typically ask before their first conversation with Raymond.

What exactly is a Fractional CTO?

A Fractional CTO is a senior technology executive who works with your company on a part-time or contract basis — providing the same strategic leadership as a full-time CTO at a fraction of the cost. They own vendor oversight, technology strategy, data governance, and integration decisions. The difference from a consultant: a Fractional CTO has accountability for outcomes, not just deliverables.

How quickly can an engagement begin?

Within days. The engagement starts with a no-cost, no-obligation 2-week Discovery Session — no contract required. Compare this to hiring a full-time CTO, which typically takes 3–6 months to recruit, onboard, and get productive. Raymond arrives already knowing your landscape from Day 1.

Why do so many technology projects fail?

Research consistently shows 85–95% of AI and technology projects fail without strategic oversight from Day 1. The core culprits are poor data governance, no independent vendor accountability, inadequate change management, and — most dangerously — running multiple simultaneous implementations without unified program management. Each project's risk compounds the others.

What does a full-time CTO actually cost in California?

Based on current California market data, a full-time CTO costs $415,000–$635,000+ in Year 1 once you include base salary ($250K–$340K), bonuses and equity ($50K–$120K), benefits and payroll taxes (~$75K–$100K), and executive recruiting fees ($40K–$75K). A fractional engagement starts from $5,000/month — with no overhead, no equity dilution, and no 3–6 month recruiting delay.

What is The MARRA Way™?

The MARRA Way™ is MARRA Global's proprietary program management methodology. Unlike traditional project management — which manages one implementation at a time — The MARRA Way provides integrated oversight across all your technology initiatives simultaneously, ensuring data governance, vendor accountability, and change management operate as a unified system from Day 1. It is the structured framework behind every Raymond Weale engagement.

Does Raymond have healthcare technology experience?

Yes. Raymond works extensively with healthcare organizations in Southern California, including multi-location practices and occupational medicine networks. His healthcare technology expertise covers EMR integration, HIPAA compliance, patient engagement platforms, no-show reduction systems, billing integration, and operational efficiency across distributed locations.

Your Vendors AreMaking Promises.Who's HoldingThem Accountable?

You Didn't Build This Companyto Babysit Software Vendors.

25 Years of EnterpriseBattle-Testing.None of the Theory.