Hello, I'm Steven Oakes, a Manchester-based Fractional CMO offering senior marketing leadership for ambitious businesses that have outgrown ad hoc marketing but aren't ready for a full-time hire.
I work best with businesses turning over £5m - £15m who need an experienced marketing leader to set strategy, develop their marketing team, and drive business growth, at a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive.
If your marketing feels busy but not effective, that's usually where I come in.
Who I've worked with
Testimonials
Amul Batra
Co-founder of Northcoders PLC
Steven's approach to marketing is impressive. He made a real impact at Northcoders, on our wins as much as our people. Anyone who works with him will quickly realise they're benefiting from having an incredibly smart marketeer on their team.
Daniel Heuman
Daniel Heuman, CEO, Intelligent Editing Ltd
Steven's go-to-market plan showed us how to get the most from AI and is one of the best returns on investment we've ever had from marketing spend.
Marie
Marketing Manager - Legal Profession
Steven’s mentorship was a turning point for me. He helped me build the confidence, structure and strategic thinking I needed to step up into a Marketing Manager role. His guidance made a huge difference in helping me grow; he provided real insights and developments from the marketing world and was there when I had any questions.
Latest blog posts
Before You Interview a Fractional CMO, Answer These Three Questions
There’s no shortage of checklists telling you what to ask a fractional CMO before you hire one, like track record, day rate, sector experience. If they’ve got a fellowship after.. Read more
The Fractional CMO’s Real Job in 2026: Being the Strategic Brain in an AI-Powered Team
We’re all working in organisations that are using AI to produce more content in less time. But what most of them don’t have is someone making sure any of it.. Read more
If You’re Planning to Sell Your Business, Your Marketing Needs to Be Exit-Ready. Most Isn’t.
Most founders think about exit-readiness in terms of financials, legal structure, and a clean cap table. Marketing is an afterthought, something to tidy up once a buyer expresses interest, if.. Read more
What Your Board Report Is Actually Telling You (And What It Should)
There’s a version of a marketing board report that’s everywhere, and it’s almost useless. It looks something like this: LinkedIn followers (up 3% from last month). Email open rate (down.. Read more
Get in touch with me
Not sure if a Fractional CMO is right for you? Let's have a 30 minute conversation. No pitch or pressure!
