VP Marketing / CMO
For permanent senior marketing and commercial leadership roles.
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Fractional & interim CMO · Belgium + Europe
Phil Ruttens.
Fractional and interim CMO.
Phil (Philippe) Ruttens is a fractional and interim CMO based in Antwerp, Belgium. He gives technical, sales-led B2B companies senior marketing leadership without a full-time hire: choosing the market, sharpening the message, aligning marketing with sales and building a pipeline sales can convert. He works remotely or hybrid across Europe, with selected US mandates.
What I take ownership of
Senior marketing leadership, close to the pipeline.
A fractional or interim CMO is only useful if someone owns the decisions. These are the four I take on from week one.
- Market focus. Which buyers, segments and accounts matter now, and which do not.
- Message. One clear reason to buy, used by marketing and sales alike.
- Sales alignment. One qualification standard, one hand-off and one weekly review.
- Operating rhythm. A plan, a cadence and clear owners, so the team keeps moving after the mandate ends.
Choosing the model
Fractional CMO, interim CMO or permanent hire?
The right model depends on how urgent the gap is and how much senior time the team needs. Phil takes fractional and interim mandates.
| Fractional CMO | Interim CMO | Permanent CMO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time commitment | Part-time, a set number of days each week | Close to full-time | Full-time |
| Duration | Ongoing, reviewed at agreed intervals | Fixed period, usually until a permanent appointment | Open-ended |
| Best when | The team is capable but lacks a senior owner for marketing decisions | A marketing leader has left or a transition cannot wait | The strategy is settled and the company can carry a full executive cost |
| What you get | Senior judgement and an operating rhythm the team runs | Immediate leadership, continuity and a clear brief for the permanent hire | Long-term ownership inside the leadership team |
Who I work with
Technical, sales-led B2B companies.
Founder-led and scaling B2B firms in software, technology and industrial markets that have a sales team but no senior marketing leader, or whose marketing leader has left. Based in Antwerp, working with teams in Belgium, across Europe and on selected US mandates.
Named recommendations
What peers say.
Public recommendations from founders and executives who have worked with Phil.
“Within three weeks, he designed and drove a full 13-week programme covering ICP positioning, sales enablement, campaign execution and CRM intelligence.”
“Phil operates at the intersection of creativity and data; an experienced marketer, accomplished operations expert and senior leader.”
“Philippe was instrumental in transforming the marketing function at Iron Mountain into a data-driven and revenue focused function.”
Selected experience
Where the judgement comes from.
Full detail on the Track Record page.
- Fractional CMO / Revenue Leader, RUTTENS+ (2016–present): defined mandates, interim work and advisory.
- CMO, Tyk (2022–2025): marketing organisation, marketing P&L, hiring briefs and scorecards for a scaling API software business.
- World Courier / AmerisourceBergen: revenue marketing centre across 10+ countries.
- Iron Mountain: lead generation and online marketing across 19 countries in Europe.
- AYA Energy (2026): go-to-market build and operating rhythm.
CVs & profiles
Download the right version.
Three approved, role-focused CVs for recruiter, board, permanent and interim conversations.
Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Read more in Interim CMO vs fractional CMO and What a fractional CMO really does.
What does a fractional CMO do for a B2B tech company?
A fractional CMO is a senior marketing leader who works part-time inside your leadership team. For technical B2B companies, Phil Ruttens focuses on one outcome: a pipeline sales can convert. That means choosing the target market, sharpening the message, aligning marketing with sales and leaving a working rhythm your team can run.
What is the difference between an interim CMO and a fractional CMO?
An interim CMO steps in close to full-time for a fixed period, usually while a permanent hire is found. A fractional CMO works part-time over a longer period. Phil Ruttens takes both kinds of mandate; the right one depends on how urgent the gap is and how much senior time the team needs.
Where does Phil Ruttens work?
Phil Ruttens is based in Antwerp, Belgium, and works remotely or hybrid across Europe, with selected US mandates. The site and first conversations are available in English, Dutch and French.
Discuss a role or mandate
Bring the context.
Use the booking calendar to start a focused conversation.