Immediate Interim CMO
Leadership For Portfolio Companies
An Interim CMO Trusted by leading PE firms like Clearlake Capital and TA Associates to
accelerate portfolio company performance during critical growth periods.
Why Interim CMO Leadership Matters
- Hiring Delays Cost Growth Opportunities: Traditional CMO searches take 6+ month
- Growth Gaps Threaten Value Creation Timelines: PE firms face compressed timelines to create value.
- Leadership Vacuum Creates Strategic Drift: With no marketing leadership, portcos drift, waste spend, and miss critical opportunities.
- Organizational Alignment Challenges: Marketing teams without leadership slow growth and reduce efficiency.
Why Interim CMO Leadership
Matters
Why Interim CMO Leadership Matters
- Hiring Delays Cost Growth Opportunities: Traditional CMO searches take 6+ month
- Growth Gaps Threaten Value Creation Timelines: PE firms face compressed timelines to create value.
- Leadership Vacuum Creates Strategic Drift: With no marketing leadership, portcos drift, waste spend, and miss critical opportunities.
- Organizational Alignment Challenges: Marketing teams without leadership slow growth and reduce efficiency.
Immediate Interim
CMO Leadership
With Alan you add immediate strategic direction and execution oversight.
PE-Specific Marketing Expertise
PE-Specific Marketing
Expertise
Get marketing leadership that understands PE investment timelines and goals. Clearlake Capital and TA Associates do.
Fractional CMO
Flexibility
Choose from full interim leadership to targeted fractional support.
CMO Advisory
Services
Access expert guidance on marketing strategy and operational infrastructure for your new CMO.
CMO Coaching and Development
CMO Coaching and
Development
Get executive coaching that accelerates performance aligned with PE growth objectives.
Deep experience in growth
marketing and private equity priorities
Cross Industry
Expertise
Leverage 25 years of experience across health IT, SaaS models, enterprise software and professional / financial services.
Reduced Risk During
Transitions
Maintain marketing momentum (and stability) during leadership changes, acquisitions, carve-outs or organizational restructuring.
Enhanced
Investment Returns
Strategies designed to drive PE valuations and create exit opportunities.
Accelerated
Growth Timeline
Portfolio companies gain strategic marketing direction from day one, protecting your value creation timeline.
Seamless Permanent
Hire Transition
Give the permanent CMO a structured knowledge transfer and transition process that preserves momentum.
Analyst-Level
Market Insights
Put benchmarking data and industry-leading practices directly into your portfolio companies.
Start Driving Revenue Now
Portcos have critical growth timelines that don’t wait for the perfect CMO hire. Get immediate, proven marketing leadership that accelerates growth during transitions when every month of performance matters to your investors.
A Typical Engagement
Deliverables typically include:
First 30 Days:
- GTM diagnostic and functional assessment
- Executive alignment and execution roadmap
Next 60–90 Days:
- Interim leadership or coaching
- KPI implementation and reporting structure
Post-Engagement:
- Transition support for incoming CMO (if applicable)
- Optional strategic advisory or coaching
- A system that continues to function and scale
About
Alan Gonsenhauser
Safe to Sponsor. Trusted by Leadership. Proven in PE.
Alan has served as CMO at twelve companies. He has mentored over 150 executives and reset underperforming GTM teams across B2B SaaS, HealthTech, Cybersecurity, and Enterprise Software environments.
He works exclusively with private equity portcos that need clear accountability in marketing.
- PE fluency and comfort with compressed timelines
- Pattern recognition built from dozens of transformations
- Focus on EBITDA, LTV/CAC payback, and strategic alignment
- Coaching and succession that builds bench strength
- A system built to scale, not dependent on him
FAQs
How quickly can you begin working with our portfolio companies?
Often within 1-2 weeks.
What industries do you have experience with?
The deepest expertise is in healthcare IT, SaaS software models, enterprise software, technology, financial services, and professional services. I have successfully served portfolio companies across these sectors with revenues ranging from $100MM to $1B+.
How do you structure interim CMO engagements?
Engagements are typically structured as either full interim CMO roles (3-4 days per week), fractional CMO positions (1-2 days per week), or advisory engagements with clearly defined focus areas. The approach is tailored to the portco’s specific needs.
What happens when we hire a permanent CMO?
You’ll get a comprehensive transition plan including knowledge transfer, onboarding support, and optional ongoing advisory to ensure your permanent hire succeeds. The goal is to maintain momentum while setting up your new CMO for success.
How do you measure success in interim CMO engagements?
With clear KPIs established at the beginning of each engagement and tied directly to your investment thesis, Value Creation Plan (VCP) and growth goals. Typical metrics include pipeline growth, marketing-sourced revenue, Lifetime value / Customer Acquisition Cost (LTV/CAC), Net Promoter Score (NPS), and other growth indicators that directly impact valuation.
What does an Interim CMO do?
An Interim CMO steps in temporarily to lead the marketing function during times of transition, such as a leadership gap, company restructuring, or rapid growth. They bring executive-level strategy and oversight to stabilize marketing operations, build momentum, and align with business goals.
When should a company consider hiring an Interim CMO?
Companies should consider an Interim CMO when there’s a leadership vacancy, a need to reboot marketing efforts, or during mergers, acquisitions, or pivots. It’s especially valuable for private equity portfolio companies operating under aggressive growth timelines.
How long does an Interim CMO engagement typically last?
Most Interim CMO engagements last between 3 and 9 months, depending on the organization’s needs. The duration may be extended to support onboarding of a permanent CMO or to complete a major strategic initiative.
How does an Interim CMO impact growth and revenue?
An experienced Interim CMO can accelerate growth by quickly diagnosing issues, deploying proven frameworks, and aligning marketing with sales and finance. This reduces wasted spend, boosts pipeline velocity, and supports long-term value creation.
Do Interim CMOs work well in private equity-backed companies?
Interim CMOs are ideally suited for PE-backed companies because they understand the urgency and rigor required to meet investment timelines. They focus on execution, accountability, and strategies that support valuation growth and exit readiness.
Is there a handoff process when a permanent CMO is hired?
Yes. A good Interim CMO creates documentation, shares insights, and transitions responsibilities to ensure a smooth and effective handoff. This reduces onboarding friction and maintains momentum.
