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Forward Share Network
CMO Expert Operator – Brand + GTM – Andre Delaire
Get Matched in 48 Hours →A fractional CMO who can run brand and pipeline simultaneously is rare – most marketing leaders are either brand-native or demand-generation-native, not both. Andre Delaire has built the full marketing stack at three early-stage companies, starting before the first marketing hire and producing category-defining brand alongside measurable pipeline. He joins as an operating CMO, not a strategic consultant.
Why brand and pipeline cannot be sequenced at early stage
The conventional wisdom is that early-stage companies should focus on pipeline first and build brand later. In a market with established category leaders, this is wrong. Without brand recognition, outbound conversion rates are lower, content does not compound, and every deal requires the same educational effort as the first. Brand and pipeline built together produce a compounding effect: content that educates buyers also generates inbound, and inbound deals close at higher rates because the trust work is already done. Andre builds both tracks in parallel from the first month of an engagement.
What a fractional CMO engagement with Andre looks like across 90 days
In the first 30 days, Andre runs a positioning sprint: ICP definition (or refinement), competitive landscape mapping, and the category narrative that will anchor all marketing output. By day 45, the content engine is running – a documented editorial calendar, two to three content formats matched to the ICP's consumption habits, and a distribution strategy. By day 90, the pipeline attribution model is live, at least one paid channel is producing measurable results, and Andre has a full-time marketing hire recommendation with a job description written and a scorecard defined. He builds the function so that the hire has something real to inherit.
When a fractional CMO is right – and when you need a different resource
A fractional CMO is the right resource when the company needs CMO-level strategic capacity and operating execution, but the marketing function is not large enough to justify a full-time CMO hire at $250K–$350K in total compensation. It is most often right at Series A or early Series B – when there is budget for marketing investment but no infrastructure, no brand narrative, and no attribution model. Andre is the wrong resource if the company already has a functioning marketing team that needs management rather than construction. In that case, the need is a VP Marketing or Head of Marketing, not a CMO.
A STAR case from the Forward Share Ventures network
Situation: A Series A B2B SaaS company at $4M ARR had raised $8M and had zero marketing function – no brand assets, no content, no demand generation infrastructure, and a founding team that had closed all revenue through personal relationships. The board required a demonstrable marketing-sourced pipeline contribution before the Series B deck was built, with a 12-month timeline.
Result: Andre joined as fractional CMO in month one. He delivered a brand identity and positioning narrative by week six, launched a content engine producing four pieces per week by week ten, and had the first paid channel live by week 14. At month nine, marketing-attributed pipeline was $1.2M, representing 31% of total pipeline – the first time the company had non-founder-sourced revenue pipeline at scale. The company made its first full-time marketing hire in month eleven, inheriting a functioning system.
Forward Share Ventures expert operators are selected from a verified STAR Portfolio™ of documented outcomes. Cases are shared with client permission.
"Companies that sequence brand after pipeline almost always end up building both from scratch at Series B anyway – because the pipeline they built without brand is fragile and founder-dependent. The compounding starts earlier if you build both together. It costs more in year one and pays back significantly more in years two and three."
– Andre Delaire, Marketing Expert Operator, Forward Share Ventures
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request an introduction to this expert operator?
Submit a brief through the match form at Forward Share Network. The team reviews your situation, confirms the expert operator's availability, and arranges a 20-minute introductory call – typically within 48 hours of your submission. No commitment is required before the intro call.
What engagement formats are available?
Three main structures: a structured advisory seat (one 60-minute session per month plus async availability), a scoped consulting project (30, 60, or 90 days with defined deliverables), or a strategic advisory retainer for ongoing functional partnership. The right format depends on your situation and timeline.
How much time does a typical engagement require?
Advisory engagements run roughly 2–3 hours per month per company, including the structured session and async exchanges. Scoped projects are more intensive for the duration – scope and time commitment are defined at kickoff. Most expert operators carry 2–4 active engagements simultaneously.
Are there placement fees or exclusivity arrangements?
No placement fees. Forward Share Network operates on an engagement model, not a transactional staffing model. Expert operators are not exclusive to any company – they bring the perspective of working across multiple situations simultaneously, which is a core part of the value.
What if my situation changes mid-engagement?
Engagements are structured with defined check-in milestones – typically at 30-day intervals. If your situation shifts, scope can be renegotiated at the next milestone. For scoped projects, the team can also configure a scope amendment before the halfway point if circumstances change materially.
Ready to match? No prep needed. 20 minutes.
Get Matched in 48 Hours →How It Works
Tell us your gap
20-minute read with Vish. We map the function, stage, and urgency — no deck required.
We match in 48 hours
You receive 1–3 STAR-verified operators matched to your exact situation — reviewed and accountable.
Deploy in days
No contract lock-in. Start with a sprint or ongoing engagement. Cancel any time.
How We Compare
The honest breakdown — what separates a Forward Share expert operator from your other options.
| Criteria | FSV Expert Operator | Staffing Agency | Full-Time Hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to deploy | 48 hours | 3–6 weeks | 3–6 months |
| Commitment | Cancel anytime | Contract-locked | 12+ months |
| Track record | STAR-verified outcomes | Resume-screened | References only |
| Cost model | Engagement-based, no fee | 20–30% placement fee | Base + equity + benefits |
| Quality | Top 5% — curated from 400+ | Available candidates | Best hire at this stage |
| Risk | Low — no long-term lock-in | Medium — fee non-refundable | High — mis-hire is 1.5–2× salary |
Find Your Expert in 48 Hours.
No prep needed. 20 minutes. You'll leave with a clear read on your gap — and the right operator to close it.
STAR-Verified · No Placement Fee · Cancel Anytime