About Kirk

Kirk Coburn pioneered the fractional executive movement over fifteen years ago.

He has spent every year since proving that a great operator does not have to choose between freedom and a full practice.

The origin

He did not study the fractional path from the outside. He cut it.

Kirk Coburn pioneered the fractional executive movement over fifteen years ago. He introduced the Fractional CMO model and founded Chief Outsiders, the firm that placed more than 2,000 fractional executives. He built The ReTern, the operating system for running an independent fractional practice.

Why he built The ReTern

The talent was never the problem. The system was missing.

He watched brilliant operators go independent for freedom and then drown in the second job of finding work. So he built it.

What it is now

The operating system for running an independent fractional practice.

The relationship engine, the operating system, the network, and the intelligence, in one place.

2,000+
executives placed
$150M+
in follow on
15+
years pioneering the category

See the system he built, and join the Crew.