Strategic Marketing Leadership Without the Full-Time Overhead
Fractional Marketing Director helping growth-stage companies ($3M-$25M) turn marketing into a revenue driver. With experience leading strategy for 100+ brands across healthcare, aerospace, manufacturing, and technology, I build data-driven marketing solutions that drive sales, increase revenue, improve margins, and strengthen customer retention—without the overhead of a full-time executive.
You've Hit the Marketing Leadership Gap
Your company has grown beyond founder-led marketing, but you're not ready for a $180K+ full-time Marketing Director. Meanwhile:
- Marketing feels disconnected from actual business results
- You're spending money on tactics without a clear strategy
- Your sales team needs better qualified leads
- You're unsure which agencies or vendors to trust
- There's no one owning marketing outcomes and accountability
You need strategic marketing leadership—someone who's built successful programs before and can guide your team—but the economics of a full-time hire don't make sense yet.
That's exactly where I come in.
Proven Marketing Strategy. Flexible Engagement. Measurable Results.
Strategic Direction
Get senior-level marketing leadership that aligns every dollar to revenue growth. I develop your marketing plan, set clear KPIs, and provide ongoing strategic oversight to keep you on track.
Cross-Industry Expertise
Benefit from patterns and best practices across 100+ brands in healthcare, aerospace, manufacturing, technology, and e-commerce. I've seen what works—and what wastes money.
Outcome Accountability
Your success is measured in business metrics—revenue growth, margin improvement, customer retention—not vanity metrics like impressions or clicks.
Three Ways to Work Together
Strategic Marketing Retainer
From $2,500/mo
Ongoing fractional Marketing Director services including strategy development, monthly oversight, vendor management, and performance accountability.
Most Popular
Learn More →Project-Based Consulting
From $3,000
Defined-scope engagements for specific needs: marketing audits, go-to-market strategy, agency search, messaging, ICPs, and more.
See Projects →Content & Execution Support
Custom pricing starting at $150
Strategic content planning with optional execution through my network of specialized writers and creators.
Explore Content Services →Trusted by Growth-Stage Companies Across Industries
Industries Served
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Aerospace & Defense
Manufacturing
Technology & SaaS
E-commerce
Professional Services
Marketing Strategies That Move Business Metrics
45% of Leads from SEO
Challenge: Generate qualified pipeline for complex technical solutions in competitive market
Result:Contributed 45% of leads via forms, gated PDFs, and phone calls for 5 consecutive years
Read Full Case Study →$12M+ in Government Contracts
Challenge: Build brand awareness and support business development in niche market
Result: Secured $12M+ in government contracts with marketing support
Read Full Case Study →$180M to $625M Revenue Growth
Challenge: Scale revenue in competitive international e-commerce market
Result: Revenue growth from $180M to $625M during my tenure as VP of Marketing
Read Full Case Study →Experience That Translates Across Industries
I'm John McCarthy, and I've spent 15+ years helping companies turn marketing into a measurable revenue driver. My career spans leadership roles at fast-growth companies like iHerb (where we scaled from $180M to $625M), digital agencies like Bruce Clay, and currently as Senior Account Director at Echo-Factory, where I've directed marketing strategies for aerospace, healthcare, and manufacturing clients.
What sets me apart is cross-industry pattern recognition. When you've worked with 100+ brands, you start seeing what actually works versus what just sounds good. You learn to cut through the noise, focus resources on high-impact activities, and build marketing systems that scale with the business.
As President of the Inland Empire Chapter of the American Advertising Federation, I stay connected to industry trends and best practices, ensuring my clients benefit from both deep experience and current thinking.
American Advertising Federation
President, Inland Empire Chapter
University
of Redlands
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration & Management
Databricks Fundamentals Accreditation
Databricks Academy