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Fractional CMOs in San Diego Making Things Happen in 2025
San Diego Interim Chief Marketing Officers to Know
From oceanfront startups to biotech powerhouses, San Diego is a city defined by innovation and lifestyle—a place where ambition meets authenticity. Whether you’re scaling a digital health platform, launching a DTC product, or repositioning your nonprofit for the next stage of impact, one constant remains: you need marketing leadership that fits the moment. That’s why more organizations in Southern California are turning to fractional Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs)—high-level marketing professionals who deliver executive guidance without the full-time overhead.
At Digital Reference, we believe that work should speak for itself—and that professionals deserve a platform that shows not only what they do but how they do it. Fractional CMOs embody that belief. They build strategy, lead teams, and get results—often behind the scenes. This blog highlights a curated list of fractional CMOs based in San Diego and surrounding cities, giving visibility to the marketing minds helping Southern California businesses grow smarter.
Our Methodology - San Diego Fractional CMO Services
To curate this list of standout fractional CMOs, we focused on several key criteria:
- Location: Based in San Diego or actively working with organizations across the greater Southern California region
- Role Type: Offering fractional, part-time, or interim CMO services—often through independent practices
- Track Record: Proven experience in leading marketing teams, campaigns, or brand transformations
- Professional Transparency: Public profiles, websites, or portfolios that align with Digital Reference’s mission of radical authenticity
- Impact Alignment: Demonstrated ability to drive strategic clarity, brand elevation, or measurable growth
These are not just consultants—they are strategic partners who embed with leadership teams, shape the narrative, and deliver results that move the needle.
Meet the Fractional CMOs in San Diego Making Things Happen
Clare Bennett
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarembennett/
With a career that spans both startup scrappiness and enterprise polish, Clare Bennett is a fractional marketing leader who knows how to translate brand vision into scalable systems. As a CMO-for-hire, she works with organizations that need a strong marketing foundation—fast.
Why She Stands Out:
- Expertise in brand development, growth marketing, and customer lifecycle strategy
- Experience across sectors including healthcare, tech, and professional services
- Balances creative storytelling with data-driven execution
Clare is known for her ability to jump into complex environments, find the marketing gaps, and build systems that work. Her approach is grounded, intentional, and always audience-focused. If you’re looking for someone who can lead your team through brand evolution, campaign optimization, or cross-functional alignment—Clare is your fractional CMO.
Christa Martin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christamartin/
A marketing strategist, brand builder, and fractional executive, Christa Martin brings a sophisticated approach to marketing leadership. Her superpower? Aligning marketing efforts with business objectives in a way that elevates both brand and revenue.
Why She Stands Out:
- Strong focus on B2B and tech startups, including SaaS and healthcare platforms
- Specializes in go-to-market (GTM) strategy, positioning, and marketing infrastructure
- Known for bridging the gap between marketing, sales, and product teams
Christa is the kind of CMO who brings not only strategic vision but executional clarity. She thrives in environments where founders or executives need a partner to organize the marketing function from scratch or refine it to operate at scale. Her approach is equal parts analytical and empathetic—a rare blend in high-growth environments.
Leslie Myrell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliemyrell/
With roots in both corporate communications and brand marketing, Leslie Myrell is a fractional CMO known for creating consistent, customer-focused narratives that elevate visibility and engagement. Her portfolio spans mission-driven nonprofits, local businesses, and early-stage companies.
Why She Stands Out:
- Deep expertise in brand strategy, PR, and integrated marketing communications
- Strong history of work in nonprofit and purpose-led organizations
- Known for her calm presence, strategic thinking, and hands-on collaboration
Leslie is ideal for organizations that need someone who can create emotional resonance while maintaining strategic discipline. Whether it’s a rebrand, a media campaign, or aligning marketing with organizational values, Leslie’s work is thoughtful, polished, and effective.
Why San Diego Is Ripe for Fractional Leadership
San Diego is home to a unique mix of industries—biotech, health tech, education, lifestyle brands, nonprofits—and an entrepreneurial culture that thrives on experimentation and mission alignment. That blend creates a growing need for flexible leadership, especially in marketing.
Fractional CMOs offer several advantages to San Diego-based companies:
- Immediate strategic insight, without the cost of a full-time CMO
- Flexibility to scale leadership as business needs evolve
- Access to seasoned professionals with cross-industry experience
- An outside perspective grounded in results, not internal politics
As the city grows, so too does the need for marketing leaders who can lead with both head and heart. These CMOs step in, align the team, clarify the message, and build the systems needed to grow.
The Digital Reference Approach
At Digital Reference, we’re building a new standard for how professionals showcase their work. It’s not just about titles or company names—it’s about real outcomes, real references, and real stories.
For fractional leaders like the CMOs featured here, that means:
- Building structured portfolios of verified marketing achievements
- Capturing testimonials and performance outcomes from clients
- Making credibility portable and transparent
We believe marketing leaders deserve to be seen for the strategic and cultural impact they make. That’s why our platform gives professionals the tools to document, validate, and grow their reputation—no matter where they work or how they’re hired.
What Makes a Great Fractional CMO?
Across industries, the best fractional CMOs share a few things in common:
- They lead with strategy. They’re not just executors; they shape the big picture.
- They understand growth. Whether it’s top-of-funnel acquisition or lifecycle marketing, they build systems that scale.
- They build trust fast. Great fractional CMOs embed quickly, listen deeply, and move with purpose.
- They’re outcome-driven. Every campaign, team decision, and budget allocation is tied to measurable goals.
Perhaps most importantly, they help teams market with intention—not just motion.
Final Thoughts
The San Diego professionals featured here are part of a new wave of marketing leadership. They don’t just consult from the sidelines—they step into the work, guide teams with clarity, and create lasting operational and creative impact.
Explore Our Global & National Fractional CMO Services Directories
Start here if you're looking for a broad list of vetted agencies and platforms offering fractional CMO services across regions:
Fractional CMO Services in the USA
The U.S. has one of the most developed markets for fractional CMOs, particularly in tech, SaaS, and DTC. With access to world-class operators who’ve led growth at scale, hiring from the U.S. means deep specialization and a high standard for strategic leadership—even on a part-time basis.
Fractional CMO Services in the United Kingdom
UK-based CMOs bring a global sensibility with strong roots in brand-building, storytelling, and demand gen. Whether you're scaling in EMEA or need a transatlantic marketing partner, hiring from the UK often means balancing creativity with commercial acumen.
Fractional CMO Services in Canada
Canada’s marketing consultants offer a unique blend of U.S.-adjacent market knowledge and European-influenced brand thinking. CMOs from Canada are often adept at cross-border strategy, digital-first execution, and cost-effective scaling for both startups and nonprofits.
Fractional CMO Services in Australia
Australia is home to a rapidly growing fractional talent ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on lean growth, ecommerce, and APAC expansion strategy. CMOs here often bring a scrappy, startup-savvy approach—ideal for early-stage or global-minded teams.
Fractional CMO Services in the United Arab Emirates
Hiring a fractional CMO from the UAE gives you access to multilingual, multi-market strategists who understand high-growth sectors like fintech, hospitality, and real estate. With experience operating across MENA and beyond, UAE-based leaders are often skilled in both regional
Fractional CMO Services in India
nuance and global brand building.
India’s fractional CMOs are known for blending strategic marketing with operational efficiency. Many bring deep experience in tech, SaaS, and outsourcing models—and are especially skilled at scaling customer acquisition and digital strategy on tight budgets.
These lists feature curated selections of leading firms and consultants offering fractional and part-time CMO services, often categorized by industry focus, engagement style, and executive depth.
Check Out Our Local Fractional, Part-Time, and Virtual CMO Talent by City
We’ve curated regional directories so you can find fractional CMOs near you—whether you want someone who understands your local market or you’re building an in-person team.
Ann Arbor Fractional CMO Services
Ann Arbor’s tight-knit business ecosystem and university-adjacent innovation make it a great place to find CMOs who blend intellectual rigor with grassroots marketing strategy. Expect data-driven marketers with strong startup and research-sector experience.
Austin Fractional CMO Services
Austin’s creative-meets-tech energy fuels a vibrant pool of fractional CMOs who thrive in fast-moving environments. Many bring experience across SaaS, lifestyle brands, and B2B marketplaces—perfect for startups with a story to tell and scale.
Boston Fractional CMO Services
Boston fractional CMOs often bring deep experience in healthtech, edtech, and B2B enterprise marketing. With a strong talent pipeline from local universities and innovation districts, these leaders pair analytical strength with strategic polish.
Chicago Fractional CMO Services
Chicago’s CMOs are pros at navigating between scrappy and structured. You’ll find leaders here who know how to scale growth functions for midmarket companies and bring calm to complex go-to-market systems.
Dallas Fractional CMO Services
With a strong presence in healthcare, real estate, and professional services, Dallas-based CMOs often bring industry-specific insights and relationship-first marketing chops—plus the ability to scale regionally and nationally.
Detroit Fractional CMO Services
Detroit is more than automotive—its CMOs are experts in industrial storytelling, brand turnarounds, and community-driven campaigns. Expect leaders who can balance legacy with innovation in highly competitive markets.
Los Angeles Fractional CMO Services
LA-based CMOs bring a strong blend of entertainment, DTC, and brand-forward experience. Whether you’re building a lifestyle brand or scaling a content-first product, these marketers know how to make it resonate—and convert.
New York City Fractional CMO Services
New York’s marketing leaders are built for speed, scale, and big vision. Hiring a fractional CMO here means access to world-class brand architects, revenue ops pros, and category definers who move quickly and deliver results.
Phoenix Fractional CMO Services
Phoenix is emerging as a hub for cost-efficient growth, and its CMOs are leading the charge. You’ll find leaders with expertise in real estate, healthcare, and service-based businesses—great for companies expanding in the Southwest.
San Francisco Fractional CMO Services
In SF, CMOs are operators as much as storytellers. You’ll find talent with experience in VC-backed startups, PLG models, and growth experimentation—ideal for companies scaling in competitive or saturated markets.
Tampa Fractional CMO Services
Tampa is quickly becoming a go-to market for tech and remote-first startups. CMOs here bring the ability to build growth foundations from the ground up, often for businesses transitioning out of the founder-led phase.
Washington, D.C. Fractional CMO Services
DC’s fractional CMOs stand out for their strategic messaging, policy awareness, and nonprofit expertise. They’re trusted by think tanks, advocacy orgs, and mission-led startups that need to tell complex stories with clarity and credibility.
As the demand for flexible, expert-level leadership continues to grow, fractional CMOs will play an increasingly essential role in helping organizations define their brand, sharpen their strategy, and reach their audience.
If you’re ready to bring in that kind of leadership—or if you are a marketing leader ready to showcase your own impact—start with Digital Reference.
– The Digital Reference Team
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