Marketing Professionals: Insights & Resources

Best Fractional CMOs in Indianapolis

Ryan Stevens
October 5, 2025
All Insights
Marketing Professionals: Insights & Resources

Best Fractional CMOs in Indianapolis

Indianapolis  Fractional CMOs

Indianapolis is no longer just “the Crossroads of America.” It’s a city thriving on innovation, entrepreneurship, and a business ecosystem that blends the grit of Midwestern work ethic with the sharp edge of modern marketing strategy. From tech startups in Broad Ripple to legacy companies downtown, businesses in Indy are hungry for growth. And increasingly, they’re finding that growth doesn’t come from guesswork—it comes from experienced leadership.

That’s where Fractional CMO consultants step in. Unlike the traditional model of hiring a full-time chief marketing officer, Indianapolis businesses can now tap into executive-level expertise on a flexible basis. Whether you’re a scaling SaaS company, a B2B service provider, or a community-rooted brand, these marketing leaders help unlock new opportunities without the overhead of a permanent C-suite hire.

At Digital Reference, we pride ourselves on surfacing these leaders. Our methodology is simple but rigorous: we research deeply, evaluate actual track records, and spotlight professionals who are driving growth in their cities. We don’t just look at flashy campaigns—we look at outcomes, client impact, and how well these consultants adapt to the unique character of their region. That’s why Indianapolis stood out to us as a market ready to showcase top talent.

🌟 Meet Indianapolis’ Fractional CMOs Making Things Happen

💠 Travis Brown

CEO, Mojo Up Marketing + Media

🔗 LinkedIn | Website

Travis Brown is a force in the Indianapolis marketing scene. As CEO of Mojo Up Marketing + Media, Travis has built more than an agency—he’s built a movement. His mission is clear: to help minority-owned businesses and diverse entrepreneurs find their voice and their competitive edge in the marketplace.

✨ Highlights of Travis’ work:

🎤 Known as the “Identity Engineer,” Travis helps clients build powerful personal and brand identities.

📈 His team specializes in high-impact video marketing, storytelling, and content strategies that make businesses unforgettable.

🌟 Recognized speaker and thought leader on diversity in marketing leadership.

Travis embodies the essence of a Fractional CMO, offering strategic leadership while also rolling up his sleeves to help companies execute. What sets him apart is not just his marketing expertise—it’s his passion for equity and empowerment in the Indianapolis business community. For companies looking to grow with both profit and purpose, Travis is a trusted partner.

💠 Chris Summers

Founder & Principal, Summers Beacon Consulting

🔗 LinkedIn | Website

Chris Summers brings decades of B2B and B2C marketing leadership to Indianapolis businesses. As the founder of Summers Beacon Consulting, he works with organizations that need clarity and alignment, often stepping in when a company has marketing “pieces” but no cohesive strategy.

✨ Highlights of Chris’ approach:

📊 Strong background in data-driven marketing and ROI-focused campaigns.

🛠️ Expertise in go-to-market planning, brand positioning, and digital acceleration.

🔎 Skilled at identifying missed opportunities and transforming them into growth engines.

As a Fractional CMO, Chris is known for stabilizing marketing functions in transition. Whether it’s a startup preparing to scale or a mature company needing a fresh strategic push, Chris ensures leadership teams and marketing execution are in sync. His clients see not only clearer direction but also measurable revenue impact.

💠 Rajat Kapur

Founder & Managing Director, &Marketing

🔗 LinkedIn | Website

Few names resonate in Indianapolis’ marketing landscape like Rajat Kapur. As founder and managing director of &Marketing, Rajat leads a team that supports mid-sized companies with outsourced and fractional marketing solutions. His reputation comes from being equal parts strategist, operator, and mentor.

✨ Highlights of Rajat’s impact:

🌍 Deep global perspective, having worked across multiple industries and geographies.

🚀 Proven ability to scale mid-market companies with limited in-house marketing teams.

🎯 Known for his passion for aligning business strategy with actionable marketing execution.

Rajat’s role as a Fractional CMO is particularly powerful for companies in transition—whether they’re family-owned businesses modernizing their approach or startups needing senior leadership without a full-time CMO. His clients benefit from both his sharp business acumen and his empathetic, collaborative leadership style.

💠 Marty Samples

Founder & CEO, MacroView CXO Consulting

🔗 LinkedIn | Website

Marty Samples is an Indianapolis-based executive who thrives on solving complex marketing and operations challenges. As the founder of MacroView CXO Consulting, Marty brings a holistic approach to leadership, blending marketing strategy with operational excellence.

✨ Highlights of Marty’s strengths:

🔧 Expertise in operationalizing marketing functions to improve scalability.

🧩 Strong track record of working with growth-stage companies needing structure and vision.

📊 Blends financial understanding with marketing insight—rare in the industry.

Marty’s clients often describe him as the kind of Fractional CMO who can step in during a “messy middle” stage, clarify priorities, and build a roadmap for growth. His consulting practice goes beyond marketing, offering executive-level guidance that helps companies see the bigger picture.

💠 Chad Pollitt

Author, Educator, and Marketing Consultant

🔗 LinkedIn | Website

When it comes to thought leadership in digital marketing, Chad Pollitt is one of Indianapolis’ most recognized names. A decorated Army veteran turned digital strategist, Chad has spent his career helping companies understand and implement the future of content and inbound marketing.

✨ Highlights of Chad’s career:

✍️ Published author of multiple books on content marketing and native advertising.

🎓 Adjunct professor at Indiana University Kelley School of Business, where he teaches digital marketing strategy.

🌐 Co-founder of Relevance, a leading content promotion agency.

Chad doesn’t just practice marketing—he teaches it, writes about it, and shapes how the industry thinks about it. As a Fractional CMO, he brings not only executional expertise but also big-picture foresight, helping Indianapolis businesses stay ahead of digital shifts. For companies that want both strategy and industry-leading perspective, Chad is an invaluable guide.

Wrapping It Up

Indianapolis has always been about resilience, community, and innovation. Those qualities are showing up in the way businesses approach marketing leadership. Professionals like Travis Brown, Chris Summers, Rajat Kapur, Marty Samples, and Chad Pollitt are rewriting the playbook with Fractional CMO solutions that give companies access to seasoned leadership at the pace they need it.

At Digital Reference, we exist to make these connections clear. Our role is to research, evaluate, and present the professionals shaping the future of cities like Indianapolis—so that businesses can confidently choose partners who will help them grow.

👉 If you’re exploring this model further, don’t miss:

At the end of the day, we believe marketing leadership should be accessible, clear, and actionable. Indianapolis is proving that when businesses have the right leaders—even part-time—they can thrive.

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