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Best Fractional CMOs in Toronto
Toronto Interim & Fractional Chief Marketing Officers
Toronto is a city that never stops moving. With its blend of global headquarters, scrappy startups, and some of North America’s most diverse neighborhoods, it has become one of the most dynamic business environments on the continent. From the tech corridors of King Street to the creative agencies in Liberty Village, marketing in Toronto isn’t just about selling products — it’s about building narratives that connect across cultures, industries, and communities.
In this context, the Fractional CMO model has exploded in popularity. Instead of hiring a full-time executive too early, growing companies now tap into seasoned experts who can guide strategy, mentor teams, and deliver results without the overhead. This is especially true in Toronto, where startups, nonprofits, and midsize businesses all crave marketing leadership that’s flexible, authentic, and cost-effective.
At Digital Reference, we’ve spent months researching the city’s independent consultants, solo operators, and boutique firms to curate this list of standout professionals. We evaluated them based on impact, methodology, thought leadership, and authenticity. Each consultant featured here is shaping Toronto’s marketing ecosystem in their own unique way.
Meet Toronto’s Fractional CMOs Making things Happen
💠 Stephen Dorsey
Fractional CMO/ Strategist, The Fractional CMO
When you think of consultants who blend executive-level strategy with authentic storytelling, Stephen Dorsey stands out immediately. Based in Toronto, Stephen is the founder of The Fractional CMO, a consultancy that provides organizations with top-tier marketing leadership without the full-time C-suite costs.
Stephen brings decades of experience in branding, media, and communications — but what really sets him apart is his commitment to values-driven marketing. For him, it’s not just about increasing sales, but about helping organizations define their purpose, craft stories that resonate, and scale responsibly.
✨ What makes Stephen unique:
- 🟢 Leads with a purpose-first marketing philosophy, ensuring brand growth is always aligned with integrity.
- 🟢 Works across industries — from tech startups to nonprofits — offering insights that cut across silos.
- 🟢 Acts as a true embedded partner rather than a distant consultant; he stays with clients through implementation.
- 🟢 A speaker, writer, and thought leader, Stephen adds a wider perspective on the role of marketing in society.
Toronto is a city where brand reputation matters just as much as market share. Stephen helps businesses navigate that intersection with clarity and conviction. If you’re looking for a consultant who understands both storytelling and strategy, Stephen Dorsey is one to watch in 2025.
💠 Jennifer Kelly
CEO & Founder, New Initiatives Marketing Inc.
Jennifer Kelly has built her practice around helping entrepreneurs and small businesses scale smart. In a city like Toronto, where startups pop up daily and competition is fierce, Jennifer offers something invaluable: clarity.
Her Marketing Map Process is designed to cut through noise and help businesses identify the right tactics at the right time. Rather than pushing flashy campaigns, she equips founders with strategic roadmaps that drive results and save resources.
✨ Highlights of Jennifer’s work:
- 🟢 Creator of the Marketing Map Process, used by dozens of Toronto-based founders.
- 🟢 Known for a hands-on, collaborative style — she works directly with business owners to simplify execution.
- 🟢 Regular speaker and trainer with groups like the Canadian Marketing Association, spreading practical insights.
- 🟢 Strong focus on fractional leadership for SMEs that aren’t ready for full-time CMOs but need senior expertise.
Jennifer embodies the startup-friendly consultant: approachable, practical, and laser-focused on results. Her clients often describe her as the person who finally brought structure and sanity to their marketing. As Toronto’s startup scene continues to expand in 2025, Jennifer will remain a go-to voice for founders who need scalable marketing leadership.
💠 Irene Elliott
Founder | Fractional CMO | Consultant, I.E Consulting
At first glance, Irene Elliott may appear more at home in HR consulting than traditional marketing. But her work through IE Consulting Corp reveals just how much people's strategy and marketing are intertwined. In 2025, as the employer brand becomes central to a company’s overall identity, Irene is the rare consultant who understands both sides of the coin.
Her specialty is helping businesses align their internal culture with their external brand. In Toronto, where the competition for top talent is as fierce as the competition for customers, Irene ensures companies project authenticity inside and out.
✨ What Irene brings to the table:
- 🟢 Expertise in leadership development, organizational design, and employer branding.
- 🟢 Helps firms translate culture and values into marketing narratives that resonate externally.
- 🟢 Focus on inclusion, diversity, and authentic leadership, areas that shape both HR and marketing.
- 🟢 Skilled at creating cohesive employer branding campaigns that support both recruitment and customer trust.
For organizations that understand their people are their brand, Irene is the consultant who bridges the gap. In 2025, expect her to continue guiding Toronto firms that want authentic, human-centered marketing strategies.
💠 Mark Evans
Founder, Marketing Spark
Few consultants in Toronto have done more to champion storytelling as a growth engine than Mark Evans. A former journalist turned marketing consultant, Mark founded Marketing Spark to help startups clarify their positioning, sharpen their messaging, and tell stories that resonate.
Over the years, Mark has worked with hundreds of startups, helping them move from confusing pitches to crisp narratives that attract investors, customers, and talent.
✨ Why Mark stands out:
- 🟢 Author of Storytelling for Startups, a widely-read resource for founders worldwide.
- 🟢 Helps companies develop value propositions and go-to-market messaging that drive traction.
- 🟢 Known for his straightforward, practical approach — no jargon, no fluff.
- 🟢 Frequent speaker, podcaster, and blogger on marketing, giving him influence well beyond client work.
In Toronto’s startup ecosystem, where attention is scarce and competition is fierce, Mark has become the go-to consultant for founders who need to cut through noise. His work in 2025 will continue to shape how Canadian startups define their voices in crowded markets.
💠 Norvin Eitzen
Founder & Chief Marketing Strategist, Eitzen & Associates
Norvin Eitzen, founder of Eitzen Marketing Services, brings a structured, process-oriented approach to fractional CMO consulting. Unlike consultants who focus solely on messaging or branding, Norvin excels at building the underlying systems that make marketing scalable.
His clients range from SMEs to growth-stage companies across Toronto, all of whom rely on him to create marketing frameworks, operational processes, and ROI-driven strategies.
✨ Norvin’s key strengths:
- 🟢 Offers end-to-end fractional CMO services — from strategic planning to tactical execution.
- 🟢 Strong focus on digital marketing infrastructure: automation, reporting, and scalable workflows.
- 🟢 Known for quickly bringing clarity to complex organizations with messy marketing functions.
- 🟢 Deep understanding of how to modernize Canadian SMEs without blowing up budgets.
Clients often highlight Norvin’s balance of strategy and execution. He’s not just a planner — he’s a doer who ensures strategies actually take root. For Toronto companies facing tighter budgets in 2025, Norvin’s precision-driven consulting style will be indispensable.
Wrapping It Up: Toronto’s Fractional CMO Scene & The Digital Reference Difference
Toronto has long been a city of hustle, innovation, and diversity. But in today’s market, growth requires more than just good ideas — it requires smart, authentic marketing leadership. That’s exactly what the consultants in this list deliver.
At Digital Reference, our mission is to highlight exactly this kind of talent. We go beyond the surface, offering tools like video resumes, professional reference collection, and curated consultant spotlights that put authenticity at the heart of professional growth.
👉 Curious about how the consulting space is changing? Check out our guides:
🍁 Market Research Consultants in Toronto to Watch
🍁 How to Hire a Market Research Consultant
🍁 Fractional CMO or Outsourced CMO: Choosing the Right Fit.
Toronto’s businesses deserve consultants who combine strategy, execution, and authenticity. And in 2025, these fractional CMOs are leading the way.
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