Top Outsourced CHROs & Fractional CHRO Agencies in Canada
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Top Outsourced CHROs & Fractional CHRO Agencies in Canada
Best Canadian-Based Outsourced CHRO services & Fractional CHRO Services in Canada
As businesses in Canada continue to evolve in the face of technological change, workforce decentralization, and increased competition, the need for strategic human resources leadership has never been greater. Fractional and outsourced CHRO services are on the rise, helping companies navigate people challenges without the overhead of a full-time executive.
At Digital Reference, we celebrate the shift toward flexible, high-impact leadership. This blog is part of our commitment to showcasing the best in the professional talent ecosystem. Here, we highlight Canada’s leading outsourced CHRO service providers—agencies that are transforming how businesses build and sustain their people operations.
These firms have been selected based on our internal vetting methodology:
Our Methodology - Canadian Fractional CHRO Services & Outsourced/Virtual Chief People Officers
- Location: Agencies must be based in or actively serve Canadian clients.
- Core Offering: Proven expertise in fractional CHRO or HR leadership services.
- Visibility & Trust: Clear track record, client testimonials, or notable leadership profiles.
- Alignment with Digital Reference Values: Commitment to authenticity, effectiveness, and human-first business practices.
Meet Canada's Best Fractional CHROs & Fractional Chief People Officers (CPOs)
The Fractional CHRO
https://www.thefractionalchro.ca/about
The Fractional CHRO, founded by Maren Vanden Akker, offers tailored HR leadership services to small and mid-sized businesses across Canada. With a clear mission to bring experienced HR leadership to organizations at an affordable rate, this agency is ideal for companies needing to build HR infrastructure or support ongoing change.
Their services span organizational design, culture initiatives, compliance, talent management, and strategic planning.
Core Offerings:
- Fractional CHRO and HR advisory services
- Workforce planning and HR audits
- Culture and engagement strategy
- Leadership development
Who They Serve:
- Early-stage startups, nonprofits, and high-growth Canadian businesses
Why We Featured Them:
The Fractional CHRO exemplifies accessibility and depth in HR leadership. They provide real value to businesses that traditionally couldn’t afford senior HR talent.
Shalini Phillips, Founder & Principal
Shalini Phillips is the Founder of The Fractional CHRO and a strategic Chief People Officer specializing in organizational transformation, M&A integration, and high-impact people strategy. She partners with CEOs and executive teams to deliver measurable performance gains—typically 20–30%—through leadership alignment, culture integration, and talent optimization. Known for thriving in complexity, Shalini helps organizations scale, restructure, and navigate critical growth phases while turning people strategy into a competitive advantage.
Tulloch Consulting
https://www.tullochconsulting.ca/fractional-services
Tulloch Consulting is a versatile firm based in Ontario that offers fractional executive services, including fractional CHRO leadership. Their approach is business-first and grounded in years of hands-on experience across multiple sectors.
Tulloch brings in-depth support across change management, DEI, and policy development, making them an excellent fit for organizations seeking to modernize and humanize their HR operations.
Core Offerings:
- Fractional CHRO and CPO services
- HR systems design
- Inclusion and culture audits
- Executive and leadership coaching
Who They Serve:
- Mid-market firms, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and public agencies
Why We Featured Them:
Tulloch Consulting blends governance expertise with hands-on HR execution, helping companies meet both compliance requirements and culture goals.
Jana Tulloch, Founder & CEO
Jana Tulloch is the Founder and CEO of Tulloch Consulting and SnapHR, where she helps small and mid-sized businesses establish strong people practices through strategic and fractional HR services. Known for her practical, people-first approach, Jana designs tailored HR solutions—from audits and talent acquisition to engagement and performance management—that streamline operations and drive business results. She partners with leaders to ensure their teams are motivated, productive, and aligned with organizational goals.
Fractional HR
Fractional HR is a Canada-wide collective offering on-demand HR and CHRO solutions. Their focus is on building and managing people operations for companies without full-time HR teams.
They bring a modular approach—you can engage them for HR infrastructure setup, strategic projects, or interim leadership during transition periods.
Core Offerings:
- Embedded fractional HR and CHRO services
- Talent acquisition and retention strategy
- Total rewards and compensation planning
- Employment law compliance
Who They Serve:
- Canadian startups, scale-ups, and remote-first organizations
Why We Featured Them:
Fractional HR is a nimble, remote-first firm that reflects the future of HR work. Their nationwide team provides expert-level service tailored to the modern workforce.
Chris Broughton, Principal Consultant & HR Leader
Chris Broughton is the Principal Consultant and Owner of UpSourced HR, specializing in fractional HR services for small and mid-sized businesses. With over 15 years of HR leadership experience and certifications including CPHR, SPHRi, and SHRM-SCP, Chris helps organizations implement strategic HR solutions that drive engagement, performance, and culture. Known for his analytical, collaborative approach, he delivers HR audits, policy development, workplace investigations, and talent strategy to empower businesses and their people.
GlassRatner
https://glassratner.ca/services/fractional-executives/
GlassRatner is one of the most established advisory firms in Canada, and their fractional executive services include CHRO support. With a broader suite of C-suite offerings, their HR leaders are ideal for organizations that need HR strategy aligned with finance, operations, and overall transformation efforts.
Their approach is hands-on, data-informed, and built around strategic alignment with business objectives.
Core Offerings:
- Fractional CHROs for transitional or growth-phase leadership
- Succession planning and executive coaching
- Workforce development and HR tech strategy
- Transformation and change leadership
Who They Serve:
- Private equity firms, enterprise businesses, and nonprofit boards
Why We Featured Them:
Farber brings the gravitas of a major firm with the accessibility of fractional engagements. They’re ideal for organizations navigating complexity or change.
Charlene Bergman, Managing Director & Partner
Charlene Bergman is the Managing Director and Partner at Glass Ratner Canada, leading the Executive Search and Interim Management practice. With a consultative, relationship-driven approach, she helps organizations across North America build exceptional executive teams and guides leaders in advancing their careers. Charlene is known for her hands-on leadership, strategic talent insights, and ability to deliver tailored solutions that align business objectives with top-tier talent.
Cognivity
https://www.cognivity.ca/fractional-chro-services-strategic-hr-leadership-on-demand/
Cognivity is a modern, future-focused HR strategy firm that offers on-demand and embedded fractional CHRO services. Their team blends strategic insight with real-world HR execution, making them an excellent partner for transformation projects or scaling teams.
What makes Cognivity stand out is their focus on aligning human systems with business outcomes. They prioritize data-informed decision-making and systems thinking.
Core Offerings:
- On-demand CHRO consulting
- HR diagnostics and capability audits
- Employer branding and engagement strategy
- Strategic workforce planning
Who They Serve:
- Tech startups, mission-driven organizations, and fast-scaling ventures
Why We Featured Them:
Cognivity’s offering is deeply aligned with Digital Reference’s focus on radical authenticity and performance-through-people. They help companies see HR as a strategic advantage, not just a support function.
Jennifer Wittig, Founder
Jennifer Wittig is the Founder and Managing Principal Consultant at Cognivity, where she helps small and mid-sized businesses scale effectively through strategic talent and organizational transformation. With expertise in fractional leadership, HR, and performance optimization, Jennifer partners with companies to create aligned structures, streamlined processes, and technology-enabled solutions that drive growth, engagement, and lasting business results.
Why Fractional CHROs Matter More Than Ever in Canada
Across Canada, businesses are looking to scale faster, manage hybrid teams, and build inclusive cultures. But they don’t always have the budget or headcount for a full-time executive.
Fractional CHROs offer a solution:
- Strategic HR leadership without long-term contracts
- Flexible engagement for project-based or interim needs
- Executive insight aligned with business goals
This model is especially valuable for startups, nonprofits, and SMEs that want to get HR right the first time.
How Digital Reference Supports Fractional Talent
At Digital Reference, our mission is to build a more transparent, human, and efficient talent ecosystem. We believe professionals should be known for their impact, not just their titles.
We support fractional CHROs and HR firms by:
- Offering structured profiles to showcase services, specialties, and references
- Enabling video storytelling and public portfolios
- Highlighting professionals and firms in our curated blogs and guides
The professionals and agencies we feature share our vision: that reputation is earned, not declared. And that work should be both credible and personal.
Final Thoughts: CHRO Leadership That Moves Business Forward
Human resources is no longer a back-office function. It’s central to how businesses grow, compete, and lead.
Whether you’re a founder hiring your first team, a CEO rethinking your culture, or a nonprofit building capacity, the fractional CHROs on this list are powerful allies.
People are the engine of your company. Make sure someone experienced is at the wheel.
Explore more from Digital Reference to meet the leaders making it happen.
Want to Be Featured? Are you a CHRO firm or independent executive serving Canadian businesses? Submit your story or service at editor@digitalreference.co for future consideration.
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