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Sam AkbariFractional CXO

Fractional COO / GTM Operations · Melbourne & worldwide

Fractional COO for operations that scale

I join your leadership team as a part-time Chief Operating Officer or head of go-to-market operations, and build the rhythm, processes and systems that let the business scale without heroics.

What is a fractional COO?

A fractional COO (Chief Operating Officer) is a senior operations leader who joins your executive team part-time, typically one to three days a week. They own the operating rhythm, processes, systems and cross-team execution, so the business can grow without relying on a few people holding it together.

Signs you need one

  • Launches and projects are slow, and every one feels like the first
  • The CEO or founder is the bottleneck for too many decisions
  • Key processes live in spreadsheets, inboxes and people’s heads
  • Teams, regions and agencies are hard to coordinate
  • You have too many tools, vendors and overlapping systems
  • Growth is exposing cracks that used to be manageable

What I deliver

The operating rhythm, processes and systems that let your teams launch faster and scale without heroics.

01

Operating rhythm, KPIs & reporting

A clear cadence of priorities, measures and meetings so the leadership team can see and steer the business.

02

Process design & automation (LEAN)

Processes mapped, simplified and automated, so work flows without chasing.

03

Launch & new-product orchestration

A repeatable launch process across teams, regions and partners, like the one-form workflow that triggers 450 tasks.

04

Systems & vendor rationalisation

Fewer, better-connected platforms and suppliers, and the courage to stop programs that will not deliver.

GTM operations & RevOps

Go-to-market operations, led at executive level.

Many growing companies need revenue operations long before they need a full-time COO: one view of the pipeline, launch and campaign processes that scale, clean CRM data and reporting the leadership team trusts.

I've run global GTM operations for a brand selling into 70+ markets, so I can lead it as part of a fractional COO seat, in person for Melbourne companies or remotely anywhere.

  • Pipeline, forecasting and CRM hygiene across sales, marketing and customer success
  • Launch and campaign workflows across teams, regions and agencies
  • Tool and vendor consolidation, and automation of the manual work in between
  • One set of KPIs and a weekly operating rhythm
When to hire a fractional COO

Why me

I've done this job, not just advised on it.

  • Head of Global GTM Operations at a global consumer brand selling into 70+ markets
  • Automated global product launches: one intake form now triggers 450 tasks across 8 teams, 4 regions and 14 agencies
  • Recommended stopping a US$1M+ program and adopted a better alternative, avoiding US$1M+ capex and ~US$600K a year in opex
  • Founder and CEO of a global systems integrator delivering transformation programs

Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Clients and employers are anonymised.

Your first 90 days

  1. 30

    Map how work actually flows across teams, regions and suppliers

  2. 60

    Set the operating rhythm: priorities, KPIs and a cadence that sticks

  3. 90

    Automate the most painful handoffs so launches stop relying on heroics

How the first 90 days work

Diagnostic sprint

From A$15,000 + GST

About two weeks. Board-ready findings and a 90-day plan.

Fractional seat

From A$12,000 + GST a month

Fractional COO / GTM Operations, about one day a week, typically 6–12 months.

Advisory retainer

From A$5,000 + GST a month

One to two days a month of senior counsel.

More days, interim and program engagements are quoted after a call. How I work

Results in this role

Modern retail interior with merchandise on display

450

Global consumer brand (70+ markets)

One form. A global product launch.

Turning a global new-product launch into a single automated workflow across teams, regions and agencies.

Minimalist retail display with clothing on hangers

US$1M+

Global consumer brand (70+ markets)

The project worth stopping.

Recommending a US$1M+ digital program be stopped, and the better alternative the business adopted instead.

FAQ

Fractional COO: common questions

What does a fractional COO do?

A fractional COO runs the operating side of the business part-time: the operating rhythm, processes, systems, cross-team execution and often a big operational program. They make sure strategy turns into delivery, week after week.

What is go-to-market operations?

Go-to-market (GTM) operations is the machinery behind sales, marketing, product launches and customer delivery: the processes, systems, data and cadence that let those teams work together at scale.

How is a fractional COO different from an operations consultant?

A consultant typically diagnoses and recommends. A fractional COO sits in the leadership team, owns the outcome and does the work with your people until the new way of operating sticks.

How much does a fractional COO cost in Australia?

My fractional seats start from A$12,000 + GST a month for about one day a week. My pricing guide compares market rates and the full cost of a full-time COO, and the calculator lets you run your own numbers.

When is the right time to bring in a fractional COO?

Usually when growth is outpacing the way the business is run. My article on when to hire a fractional COO covers the seven signs.

Further reading

Other roles

Let's talk about what's next for your business.

A 30-minute conversation, no pitch deck. If I'm not the right fit, I'll tell you, and point you to someone who is.