03.02.25

Placing a Fractional CPO, in 48hrs!

Success Story: Placing a Fractional CPO in a High-Growth SaaS Start-Up

At dcoded, we go beyond simply filling roles… we take the time to understand a business’s true needs and deliver strategic hiring solutions. This success story highlights how we placed a Fractional Chief Product Officer (CPO) into a fast-scaling SaaS start-up, ensuring they had the right leadership to drive product strategy and execution at a critical stage of growth.
 

The Challenge

Our client, a well-funded SaaS start-up, initially engaged us to help secure a Fractional Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Given the complexity of their platform rebuild and need for technical leadership, this was a crucial hire. However, as the CTO settled into the business, it became evident that while the technical function was now well-supported, there was a gap in product strategy and delivery capability.
The UX and product teams needed someone more strategically placed to drive their roadmap, ensuring alignment between user needs, commercial goals, and technology. The CTO could provide the technical oversight, but they needed a product leader to work alongside them; someone who understood SaaS at scale, could shape the product vision, and ensure execution at speed.

Initially, the client considered hiring a Senior Project Manager / Product Manager. However, after a face-to-face consultation, we advised that a Fractional CPO working on a fractional basis (3 days a week), would provide the strategic oversight they needed, without the cost and long-term commitment of a full-time hire. The challenge was finding the right person quickly, as they had an ambitious timeline for their SaaS platform reconciliation and growth.

The refined requirements included:
•    Deep experience in scaling SaaS products, particularly in B2B environments.
•    A track record of defining and executing product strategies that drive growth.
•    Strong leadership skills to mentor and develop the internal product team.
•    Commercial acumen to align product decisions with revenue goals.
•    A data-driven mindset, with experience in customer research, analytics, and go-to-market strategy.

The Process

1. Understanding the Client’s Needs
Our first step was an in-depth consultation with the CEO and leadership team. We met face-to-face to understand their challenges, vision, and current gaps. By working closely with them, we clarified that they needed someone who could not only manage product but also contribute to broader commercial and strategic decisions.
By reframing the conversation from who do you think you need? to what problems are you solving?, we helped them see that a Fractional CPO was the right solution. They trusted our expertise and gave us the go-ahead to find the right person… fast.
 

2. Tapping Into Our Network
With over 11 years in technology recruitment, we’ve built a strong network of senior product leaders. According to the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation), 85% of senior hires in the UK tech industry are made through specialist recruiters and professional networks. This was exactly the scenario where those connections made all the difference.
We identified and engaged with top Fractional CPOs who had experience scaling SaaS businesses. Within a week, we had a shortlist of three highly qualified candidates who were available and ready to hit the ground running.
 

3. Rigorous Selection and Compliance Management
Finding great people is one thing… making sure they’re the right people is another. Each candidate went through a rigorous screening process that included:
•    Product Strategy Deep Dive: Assessing their ability to shape and execute a winning product vision.
•    Leadership Evaluation: Ensuring they could build and mentor a high-performing team.
•    Commercial Alignment: Testing their ability to balance customer needs with revenue and business goals.
•    Scenario-Based Challenges: Presenting real-world SaaS challenges to see how they’d approach product development, roadmap prioritisation, and stakeholder management.
Given the urgency of the hire and the contractor status of the role, we also managed all aspects of compliance and IR35 assessment, ensuring the engagement was structured correctly to protect both the client and the candidate.
 

4. Securing the Placement
Within 48hrs weeks, we had secured the ideal candidate… a former CPO with extensive SaaS experience, having scaled multiple products from early-stage to high-growth. Their ability to blend product vision with commercial execution made them the perfect fit.
We handled contract negotiations, ensuring a seamless and compliant engagement, and the new Fractional CPO started within three weeks of our initial conversation with the client.

Post-Placement Support
Our work didn’t stop at placement. We provided ongoing support to ensure the partnership was successful, including:
•    Onboarding Coordination: Setting up introductory sessions with key stakeholders to align on priorities.
•    Regular Check-Ins: Conducting feedback sessions to ensure both the client and CPO were aligned and delivering value.
•    Performance Metrics: Helping define measurable outcomes to track the impact of the new hire.

Conclusion
This placement proves that the right leadership can transform a business. By understanding the true needs of our client, leveraging our network, and managing compliance seamlessly, we delivered a Fractional CPO who is making a tangible impact within 48hrs.
If you’re looking to secure senior product leadership to scale your SaaS business, get in touch with dcoded today. Let’s build something great together.