Interim & Fractional CPO

Senior executive people leadership when immediate stability, judgement and momentum is required.

Kate Klease works with CEOs and Boards as a Fractional or Interim Chief People Officer when organisations require an experienced executive to stabilise the people agenda, restore confidence, and carry accountability through periods of disruption, transition or material change

  • Immediate leadership continuity is required following an unplanned departure, extended leave, or planned transition

  • The organisation is moving through a period of heightened change, and additional senior leadership capacity is required to maintain stability and momentum

  • Transformation activity is underway or imminent, and workforce, governance and operating model implications require experienced executive oversight

  • Transaction, restructuring or integration activity introduces people, culture or operating model risk that must be actively managed

  • Growth, scale or reset has increased complexity, stretching existing leadership bandwidth

  • The Board or CEO requires independent, experienced judgement during a high‑consequence period

  • Enterprise‑wide change or transformation requires experienced executive leadership to align people, governance and operating model; particularly where AI and automation materially reshape work and decision‑making

When organisations appoint a Fractional or Interim CPO

Executive Accountability

In a Fractional or Interim Chief People Officer capacity, Kate Klease is accountable for bringing leadership, structure, discipline and momentum to the people and change agenda during periods of disruption or transition.

This includes:

  • Stabilising senior people leadership and restoring confidence

  • Establishing clear decision rights, priorities and operating rhythm

  • Holding the workforce and change agenda together as an integrated system

  • Actively managing organisational, workforce and reputational risk

  • Ensuring change and transformation activity translates into sustained performance, not disruption fatigue

Kate provides Fractional and Interim Chief People Officer support nationally across Australia, with a key focus on Melbourne. Melbourne Chief People Officer Melbourne Fractional Chief People Officer