Top 10 Fractional CMOs in San Diego to Hire in 2026

Marketing ops leader specializing in strategy, systems, and audience growth.

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The best fractional CMOs in San Diego give you senior-level marketing leadership without the full-time cost. If you're scaling a startup or bridging a leadership gap, the right hire shapes your GTM strategy, aligns your team, and drives real pipeline. I've vetted the top options so you can find the best fit for your stage, budget, and goals.

Top 10 Fractional CMOs in San Diego

Below are profiles of the best fractional CMOs in San Diego, covering who they are and what they bring to the space.

Avnita Gulati profile picture

Avnita Gulati

Fractional CMO & GTM Strategist

San Diego, United States

Focus area:

#Go-to-market strategy#Growth marketing#Marketing leadership#Pricing strategy#Customer insights

Avnita Gulati is a marketing executive associated with Data Prescient. Her professional work spans chief marketing officer leadership, fractional CMO services, and go-to-market strategy.

Her approach connects growth planning with customer understanding,…

Ori Zemer profile picture

Ori Zemer

Fractional CMO and Commercial Strategy Consultant at LRJ Marketing

San Diego, United States

Focus area:

#Fractional marketing leadership#Luxury brand strategy#Commercial strategy#Revenue growth#Go-to-market strategy

Ori Zemer leads LRJ Marketing, where he provides fractional CMO services and commercial strategy consulting. He previously spent more than two decades leading ALOR, a luxury jewelry business, as a senior executive.

…

Neal Schaffer profile picture

Neal Schaffer

Fractional CMO at PDCA Social

Irvine, United States

Focus area:

#Digital marketing strategy#Influencer marketing#Content marketing#Social media strategy#Marketing education

Neal Schaffer is president of PDCA Social, a digital marketing consultancy, and a fractional CMO, author, and educator. He teaches at Rutgers Business School and UCLA Extension and writes about digital marketing.

…

Jeff Lerner profile picture

Jeff Lerner

Founder & Fractional CMO at Misnomer Marketing

San Diego, California

Focus area:

#Fractional CMO leadership#Category design#Brand positioning#Demand generation#B2B growth strategy

Jeff Lerner founded Misnomer Marketing, a fractional CMO practice based in Carlsbad. His marketing leadership career spans Google, AT&T, Cricket Wireless, and the freight technology company Flock Freight.

Lerner works directly with…

Caroline Neufeld

Fractional CMO at Paddle Marketing

San Diego, United States

Focus area:

#Ecommerce growth#Performance marketing#Paid media strategy#Email marketing#Marketing team leadership

Caroline Neufeld leads Paddle Marketing, a consultancy serving direct-to-consumer ecommerce brands. Her background spans digital advertising, email marketing, client management, and strategic marketing leadership.

Neufeld helps ecommerce businesses grow revenue through paid…

Connect with Caroline:

Mark Gabrielli profile picture

Mark Gabrielli

Fractional CMO & COO at MarkCMO

Cape Canaveral, United States

Focus area:

#Fractional executive leadership#Go-to-market strategy#Revenue operations#Marketing automation#Demand generation

Mark Gabrielli leads MarkCMO, the fractional executive practice of WETYR Corporation. His work combines marketing and operational leadership for growth-stage businesses across SaaS, healthcare, and aerospace.

Gabrielli embeds with companies to manage…

Ian Feder profile picture

Ian Feder

Fractional CMO & Revenue Architect at EliteCMO

San Diego, United States

Focus area:

#Revenue architecture#SaaS growth#Go-to-market strategy#Revenue operations#Account-based marketing

Ian Feder is the fractional CMO and revenue architect behind EliteCMO. His executive marketing background includes Amazon and work across SaaS, financial services, and ecommerce businesses.

Feder helps CEOs connect marketing, sales,…

Lynn Fulks profile picture

Lynn Fulks

Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor at Upstart Group

San Marcos, United States

Focus area:

#Fractional CMO leadership#Marketing strategy#Revenue growth#Marketing operations#Business growth advisory

Lynn Fulks is a co-founder and strategic advisor at Upstart Group, a fractional marketing leadership and growth advisory firm. Her professional background includes marketing strategy and business growth initiatives.

Upstart Group combines…

Adrian Boysel profile picture

Adrian Boysel

Fractional CMO & Brand Strategist

Sacramento, United States

Focus area:

#Fractional marketing leadership#Brand strategy#Go-to-market strategy#Revenue operations#Marketing automation

Adrian Boysel is a California-based brand strategist and fractional marketing executive whose work spans brand development, growth systems, and executive advisory services for businesses across multiple industries.

Boysel offers embedded fractional CMO…

Andrea Mathews profile picture

Andrea Mathews

Marketing Strategy & Fractional Leadership Advisor

San Diego, United States

Focus area:

#Fractional marketing leadership#Marketing strategy#Revenue growth#Customer experience#Marketing operations

Andrea Mathews is a marketing and growth executive with leadership experience at Petco, REI, and Caesars Entertainment. She also founded Luminosa Group, a consulting practice supporting growing businesses.

Through Luminosa Group, Mathews…

Selection Methodology

I selected the leaders on this list based on their relevance, demonstrated expertise and impact, professional credibility, and active service offerings in the field.

I look for evidence such as leading meaningful initiatives, delivering results, providing ongoing operational leadership, developing influential ideas or practices, publishing or teaching, and other contributions that demonstrate impact. These leaders must also be based in San Diego or clearly serve clients there through a broader regional, national, or global service area.

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Amanda Jacques

I lead marketing operations, performance, and audience strategy at Black & White Zebra. Previously, I built HubSpot infrastructure at The W Group, improved reporting at Imperial Distributors Canada, and managed healthcare marketing at invigoMEDIA. I specialize in turning complex data and processes into scalable, measurable systems. I hold a BA from the University of Ottawa and a Graduate Certificate in PR from Georgian College.

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