Fractional CMO for Private Equity
Marketing Leadership for PE-Backed Growth.
Get hands-on marketing leadership that delivers results your CEO and board can see—because outcomes, not talk, create value.
When growth stalls in a portfolio company, the culprit is often hiding in plain sight: underbuilt or underperforming marketing. Maybe there’s no clear strategy. Or the agency didn’t deliver. Or the CEO is still the de facto head of marketing. Whatever the reason, the result is the same: a critical growth lever is not performing.
That’s where I come in.
I’m Jessica Kelley, founder of HPZ Marketing. I serve PE firms and their portfolio companies—usually under $50M in revenue as a fractional CMO. I don’t just advise. I lead. I work alongside the CEO to define a strategy that fits your stage, lead your team (or vendors), execute and stay accountable to outcomes.
Private equity marketing leadership
What Your Portfolio Gains with a Fractional CMO
Deep operating experience that turns marketing into a reliable growth lever.
I’m not here to coach from the sidelines. I’m a CMO who’s been in the seat, built the team, and delivered results at every stage of growth. I join your portfolio company as part of the leadership team—building the marketing ecosystem, driving revenue, and eliminating waste.
I focus on marketing structure that scales, growth you can measure, and day-to-day execution that frees up your CEO to lead.
I don’t hand off strategy—I lead it, run it, and make sure it delivers.
Why PE Firms Brings in a Fractional CMO
You are under pressure to create operational value. Your marketing function is broken. There is no strategy, no accountable lead and zero results. Maybe the last agency failed. Maybe your “marketing person” isn’t a strategist. Maybe your board wants traction and there’s no time to guess.
That’s when you call me. I bring experienced executive marketing leadership to stabilize the function, reset strategy, and create traction your board expects.
What’s Slowing Your Growth? Start with Marketing.
If you’re seeing one or more of these issues, your marketing isn’t just underperforming—it’s creating drag on growth, margin, and momentum.
No Marketing leadership.
Just junior staff and disconnected tactics—no one setting strategy or driving outcomes.
Revenue has stalled post-acquisition.
No scalable demand plan. No marketing plan to support your growth stage.
No ownership of marketing performance. No one one tying spend to results, ROI, or managing accountability.
You’ve burned time and budget.
You’ve hired in-house. You’ve hired agencies. Neither moved the needle.
What Marketing Should Look Like Inside a Portfolio Company
Marketing strategy, structure, and execution—without the cost of a full-time CMO:
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A marketing plan built around financial goals
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Execution ownership—across strategy, teams, and channels
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Clear KPIs and performance metrics tied to ROI
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Scalable systems, reporting, and marketing operations
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Team coaching and vendor accountability
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As a certified Women-Owned Business, I combine strategic oversight with day-to-day execution—so you get marketing that actually works, not just more ideas.
Why Private Equity Firms Call Me In
Most portfolio companies reach an inflection point where marketing must scale—but it’s too soon for a full-time CMO. Junior hires can’t set the strategy. Agencies aren’t embedded enough. I step in to build what’s missing and lead it through execution.
Execution + Strategy
I build the plan and lead the work. No handoffs
I create value on day 1
Everything aligns to investment and financial goals
Customized to your portfolio
I tailor plans to your goals and growth stage
I stick around for the hard part
Marketing is complex. I stay through execution
What CEOs Say After Working with Me
These are real outcomes—straight from leaders who brought me in to get marketing unstuck and saw measurable results. Two quick examples below. More at the link.
Fractional CMO leadership for SaaS growth
As a bootstrapped CEO, I needed marketing leadership. You not only consult, but you own our marketing, pushing us to actionable results.
High-impact marketing execution in first 30 days
You accomplished more in one month as a part-time fractional CMO, then my previous head of marketing did in six months.
Bring in a CMO Who Leads Like an Owner.
If your portfolio company’s marketing is stuck, scattered, or stalled—I can help. Not sure what kind of marketing help you need? In 30 minutes, I can help you assess your options—and determine whether a fractional CMO is the right fit for your portfolio company.
Recommended reading resources
Learn More About Fractional Marketing
What is fractional marketing?
Learn how a part-time CMO provides executive-level expertise to drive growth and optimize marketing strategies at a fraction of the cost of a full-time CMO.
Is a part-time CMO right for your business?
Determine if a part-time CMO is the strategic fit your business needs by exploring the key indicators that suggest it’s time to bring in fractional expertise.
5 signs you need a part-time CMO
Explore the five reasons that signal it’s time to bring in a part-time CMO to significantly improve your marketing success and drive substantial business growth.
What Does a fractional CMO Do?
A fractional CMO is responsible for your marketing team, improves digital success, optimizes the sales funnel, and prioritizes a customer-centric focus.
Business benefits of a fractional CMO
Discover how a fractional CMO can grow customer acquisition, protect retention, and deliver strategic results with expert guidance and candor.
Ask a fractional podcast interview
This podcast explores the realities of fractional work—managing growth, building trust, and sales collaboration—whether you’re considering or hiring a fractional.
Talk to a fractional CMO
Book a free 30-minute consultation
My story
What is HPZ Marketing?
The HPZ marketing name has a deep personal meaning for me.
I named my company after my beloved grandfather.
Jessica Kelley
Founder and CEO
Jessica Kelley has more than two decades of experience in marketing and finance, with a focus on B2B and B2C channels. She has worked extensively within the healthcare, consumer, commercial, and software industries in diverse environments ranging in size from a $200 billion corporation to a startup firm.
Jessica is the founder of HPZ Marketing, an interim CMO and fractional CMO company and is certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as a Women’s Business Enterprise and Women Owned Small Business (WOSB). They provide interim and fractional executive marketing services to help businesses achieve marketing ROI with executable strategy and a relentless focus on customer acquisition and retention. Learn more about hiring a fractional CMO for your business.