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Perello Consulting

A Fractional AI Director — no hiring required.

AI strategy decided, not debated. Projects reaching production. EU AI Act compliance under control.

This role is referred to in executive circles as a Fractional CAIO (Chief AI Officer). We prefer a clearer term: Fractional AI Director — to leave no ambiguity about what you are purchasing.

By Laurent Perello, founder of Perello Consulting — 25 years in tech, web pioneer since Web1, AI operator in production since 2024. Last updated: 15 April 2026.

Your company has already invested in AI. Projects have started, some have burned through budget, none has reached production. The EU AI Act enters full application on 2 August 2026. You do not yet have a compliance framework. And hiring a full-time AI Director means 12 to 18 months of recruitment and 150 to 220 k€ per year in total employment costs.

The Perello Fractional AI Director is the answer to this precise problem: monthly executive accountability, no hiring, 30-day notice period.

The problem, in three figures

55 % of French SMEs use AI without measuring any ROI

By end 2025, 55 % of French SMEs were using generative AI — up from 31 % the year before (Bpifrance Le Lab, reported by IT Social). Yet the France Num Barometer 2025 shows that most business leaders measure no ROI from their AI experiments. A failed AI project in an SME typically costs 60 to 200 k€ — with no usable output.

The EU AI Act becomes mandatory on 2 August 2026

The European regulation enters full application on 2 August 2026 (European Commission, official timeline). Any SME deploying a high-risk AI system — in HR, customer scoring, security, or automated decision-making — must document, audit, and govern it. Administrative penalties reach up to 15 M€ or 3 % of global annual revenue. The CCI network confirms that French SMEs are largely under-prepared.

Unstructured use of generative AI exposes your data

According to France Num and Aquitem 2025, a majority of SME employees use ChatGPT or equivalent tools with no framework, no charter, and no oversight. The consequences: exposed client data, diluted intellectual property, weakened GDPR compliance, and unmeasured productivity.

What the Perello Fractional AI Director is not

Before describing what we do, here is what we do not do.

Not a consulting firm. We do not sell slide decks. We deliver systems and decisions.

Not an AI coach. We do not train your teams on tools. We steer your AI trajectory at the executive level.

Not a training provider. Skills development is a by-product, not the product.

Not a day-rate AI freelancer. We take monthly executive accountability, with written and dated deliverables.

The Perello response: a trajectory on three axes

Strategy decided

Within 90 days, you have a written AI strategy, an EU AI Act risk mapping, and a quarterly roadmap validated at executive committee level. Not a list of possibilities — a prioritised plan, with resources and timelines assigned.

Execution supervised

We manage your AI projects from specification to production. Vendor selection, contract negotiation, deliverable oversight, ROI dashboard. You make the strategic calls; we handle the coordination.

Compliance controlled

EU AI Act register, risk-level mapping of in-place systems, internal continuous documentation procedures, management-level awareness sessions. Your compliance is not a parallel workstream — it is built into every deployment decision.

Three tiers, three levels of engagement

The Perello Fractional AI Director adapts to your company's size and AI portfolio maturity. Three tiers, three levels of presence, one shared logic: minimum quarterly commitment, monthly billing, 30-day notice period, written deliverables.

Tier 1 — Scoping AI

For whom. SMEs of 10 to 80 employees, annual AI budget of 15 to 60 k€, leadership that wants to establish a framework before spending further.

Promise in 90 days. Written AI strategy, EU AI Act risk mapping, quarterly roadmap validated at executive committee level.

Cadence. 1 working day per month (90-minute executive committee + on-site). Weekly 30-minute structured meeting every Monday morning. Technology watch digest every Friday (1-page PDF). Asynchronous channel, response within 48 business hours.

What you receive each month.

  • 1 working day (90-minute executive committee + on-site)
  • Weekly 30-minute structured meeting (Monday morning)
  • Technology watch digest every Friday (1-page PDF, sourced from Radar Fondateurs)
  • Asynchronous access, response within 48 business hours

What you receive in month 1.

  • Full 360° AI audit: usage, tools, data, risks, governance — 4 to 6 interviews with key staff, written report of 15 to 25 pages delivered at executive committee (enforceable document, signed by Laurent)
  • EU AI Act mapping of existing systems (classification by risk level)
  • Turnkey template pack delivered from day one: blank AI charter, EU AI Act register, governance matrices, vendor grids, simple ROI dashboard
  • Access to VantagePeers and VantageRegistry resources within the scope of the engagement
  • 30-day satisfaction guarantee active from the start (see Guarantee section below)

Month 2 — Scoping. Internal AI charter drafted (usage, data, compliance, in-house vocabulary). Prioritised quarterly roadmap: 3 to 5 use cases, with explicit prioritisation criteria. EU AI Act governance note signed by leadership. Risk monitoring framework. Integrated tech watch.

Month 3 — Launch. Pilot use case selected and scoped (3–5 page brief). Operational specifications. Vendor shortlist (3 to 5, comparative scoring). ROI measurement plan (indicators, baseline, frequency). Quarterly review and recommendation to renew or move to a higher tier. Integrated tech watch.

SLA. Asynchronous channel within 48 business hours, monthly committee within 5 business days of request, crisis support (AI incident, CNIL request) within 24 business hours.

Phase 1 launch pricing: 2 700 € excl. VAT/month. Minimum 3-month commitment.

Tier 2 — Pilot AI

For whom. SMEs of 50 to 200 employees, annual AI budget of 60 to 200 k€, leadership that has validated a roadmap and wants to execute.

Promise in 6 months. Two AI use cases in production with measured ROI, operational EU AI Act compliance, teams using AI within a structured framework.

Cadence. 2 days per month (1 executive day + 1 on-site and workshop day). Monthly 90-minute executive AI committee. Monthly 2-hour team workshop. Weekly 30-minute meeting. Asynchronous channel within 24 business hours. 1 hour of telephone availability per month outside scheduled sessions.

What you receive each month.

  • 2 working days (executive committee + on-site/workshops)
  • Weekly 30-minute structured meeting
  • Technology watch digest every Friday (1-page PDF, sourced from Radar Fondateurs)
  • 1 hour of telephone availability per month outside scheduled sessions
  • Asynchronous access within 24 business hours

What you receive in month 1.

  • Full 360° AI audit (same scope as Tier 1: interviews, 15–25 page report, EU AI Act, governance)
  • Turnkey template pack delivered by day 7 (charter, EU AI Act register, matrices, grids, dashboard)
  • Firm selection of 2 priority use cases (brief validated at committee on the basis of the audit)
  • Access to VantagePeers and VantageRegistry integrated into the process from month 1
  • 30-day satisfaction guarantee active from the start

Month 2. Specifications for both use cases (in contractualisable format). Vendor selection and start of negotiations. Deployment plan (phases, milestones, owners). User training plan for target teams. Integrated tech watch.

Month 3. Vendor supervision for use case 1. Pilot user support (2-hour session with pilot team). ROI dashboard v1 (operational indicators, first figures). Integrated tech watch.

Month 4. Deployment of use case 2. Finalised EU AI Act register (all systems, risk levels, measures). Internal continuous documentation procedures. Integrated tech watch.

Month 5. ROI review for both use cases (comparative report: baseline vs. results). Adjustments: argued discontinuation or scale-up decided. EU AI Act awareness session for management (2 hours). Integrated tech watch.

Month 6. End-of-programme report to board or executive committee (executive presentation format). 12-month AI plan with projected budget. Recommendation to renew or move to Tier 3. Integrated tech watch.

SLA. Asynchronous channel within 24 business hours, committee within 5 business days, crisis support within 12 business hours.

Phase 1 launch pricing: 5 000 € excl. VAT/month. Minimum 6-month commitment.

Tier 3 — AI Director

For whom. SMEs and mid-sized companies of 150 to 250 employees, annual AI budget of 150 to 500 k€, high-risk EU AI Act exposure (HR, finance, healthcare, security), or organisations preparing a fundraise or acquisition.

Promise. An AI Director at the executive committee level, steering your 12–24 month AI trajectory, your EU AI Act compliance, your use-case portfolio, and your vendor relationships.

Cadence. 4 days per month, including physical or video presence at the monthly executive committee. Weekly 30-minute meeting. Asynchronous channel within 12 business hours. Extended telephone availability, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. In-depth technology watch digest every Friday (2 pages with action recommendations).

What you receive each month.

  • 4 working days including executive committee presence
  • Weekly 30-minute structured meeting
  • In-depth technology watch digest every Friday (2 pages, action recommendations, sourced from Radar Fondateurs)
  • Extended telephone availability 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
  • Asynchronous access within 12 business hours

What you receive in month 1.

  • Full 360° AI audit in advisory format (executive committee interviews, 20–30 page report)
  • Official designation as "Fractional AI Director" (internal and external title, website mention if agreed)
  • Integration into governance structures (access to agenda, minutes, key contacts)
  • Full template pack + sector customisation (adapted charter, EU AI Act register, governance procedures)
  • VantagePeers and VantageRegistry architecture integrated into the executive intelligence framework
  • 30-day satisfaction guarantee active from the start

Month 2. 24-month AI strategic plan (executive committee presentation). Multi-year AI budget with rationale. Complete EU AI Act mapping of all systems. Dated compliance plan. Integrated tech watch.

Month 3. Launch of the first 3 use cases in parallel. Internal AI team structuring: identification of 1 to 2 internal leads, coaching plan. AI governance procedures documented. Integrated tech watch.

Month 4. Operational EU AI Act compliance: finalised register, active procedures, legal awareness sessions delivered. Vendor and integrator relationships structured. Review of supplier contracts for AI clauses. Integrated tech watch.

Month 5. Consolidated portfolio ROI measurement (executive dashboard). Board or shareholder reporting (investor-grade format). Preparation of external EU AI Act audit if relevant. Integrated tech watch.

Month 6. Six-month review (full report + year 2 recommendations). Next 12-month plan. Gradual handover to internal AI team. Integrated tech watch.

Months 7 to 12 and beyond. Ongoing steering, new use-case arbitration. Regulatory watch (flash notes on EU AI Act updates). External representation (trade events, hearings, institutional relations if mandated). Monthly coaching of internal AI leads (1 hour/month). 2 days of team training per semester.

SLA. Asynchronous channel within 12 business hours, committee within 48 hours, crisis support within 4 business hours, extended telephone availability.

Phase 1 launch pricing: 9 500 € excl. VAT/month. Minimum 6-month commitment, annual renewal.

Pricing overview

| Tier | Name | Intensity | Minimum commitment | Phase 1 launch pricing | Standard rate | |------|------|-----------|-------------------|------------------------|---------------| | 1 | Scoping AI | 1 day/month + weekly 30-minute meeting | 3 months | 2 700 € excl. VAT/month | 3 800 € excl. VAT/month | | 2 | Pilot AI | 2 days/month + weekly 30-minute meeting | 6 months | 5 000 € excl. VAT/month | 7 000 € excl. VAT/month | | 3 | AI Director | 4 days/month + weekly 30-minute meeting | 6 months + renewal | 9 500 € excl. VAT/month | 13 000 € excl. VAT/month |

Phase 1 launch pricing. Subject to revision after 3 signed clients. Signatories in this phase benefit from a 10% loyalty discount on the standard rate at the contract anniversary date, maintained as long as the contract has not been interrupted for more than 6 consecutive months.

Why Laurent Perello

25 years building on the web. Early adopter of api.ai (later Google Dialogflow) and ManyChat from 2016. Founder of Arthera, a Layer 1 blockchain. AI operator in production since 2024, running seven orchestrators that work daily without constant supervision.

What this means for you: a single senior interlocutor who has navigated four technology revolutions — not a team of junior consultants who discovered AI eighteen months ago. The DIRE-FAIRE-PROUVER method (Define–Execute–Prove) is operated on our own infrastructure before it is ever proposed to a client. What has not held up on our side will never be delivered to yours.

The Silkhom 2025 Barometer and Free-Work 2025 place the daily rate of a senior AI technical director at 1 200 to 1 800 € excl. VAT per day. Tier 1 at 2 700 €/month for one working day represents equivalent value — on a monthly engagement, not a day rate.

The infrastructure we operate for you, not for ourselves

Perello Consulting does not work from a consultant's office with slide decks. We operate — in production, every day — a live AI infrastructure. What we offer you includes access to the tools we use to run our own business. Not a demonstration. A transfer.

VantagePeers is the open-source protocol that coordinates our AI systems. It manages shared memory across agents, information transmission, and ongoing task tracking. It is published under the MIT licence — which means one precise thing: you can study it, implement it, audit it. No one can take it from you. What we have built on top of it has been running without interruption for over thirty-six days. You are not buying a promise of an ecosystem. You are entering an ecosystem already in production.

VantageRegistry is the component catalogue powering our systems: specialised agents, business automations, connectors. One hundred and forty-five tested and classified components, compatible with standard working environments. When we deploy a process for you, we use components that worked here before being delivered to you. Nothing arrives at your company as a world premiere. Access is provided via your client dashboard (link provided at onboarding).

The consequence for your business is direct. You are not locked into Perello Consulting to sustain what we build together. The AI governance framework, the deployed processes, the automation components: all are documented, exportable, and maintainable by your team or technical provider. At the end of the engagement, you retain an infrastructure — not a dependency. That is the difference between purchasing a service provider and acquiring a governance asset.

30-day satisfaction guarantee

If, at the end of the first 30 calendar days following the engagement start date, you consider that the commitments described in the signed commercial proposal have not been met, you may terminate the contract in writing. Perello Consulting will refund the full amount of the first month or first instalment received, within 10 business days. No penalty, no termination fee. No justification required.

Pricing conditions

All rates are quoted exclusive of VAT. VAT applies at the rate in force (20 % in mainland France). Monthly billing in arrears for Fractional AI Director engagements.

Phase 1 launch pricing applies to contracts signed before the threshold of 3 active clients. The contract states explicitly: "The present rate constitutes a Phase 1 launch price. On the contract anniversary date, the rate is updated to the standard rate in force. The Phase 1 signatory benefits from a 10% loyalty discount on the year N+1 standard rate, maintained as long as the contract has not been interrupted for more than 6 consecutive months." The price update is written, dated, and legally enforceable.

A failed AI project in an SME typically costs 60 to 200 k€ (Bpifrance Le Lab). A full Tier 1 engagement over 3 months totals 8 100 € excl. VAT. If the scoping prevents a single poor purchasing or implementation decision, the return ratio is 1:7 to 1:25.

Phase 1 launch pricing. Subject to revision after 3 signed clients. Signatories in this phase benefit from a 10% loyalty discount on the standard rate at the contract anniversary date, maintained as long as the contract has not been interrupted for more than 6 consecutive months.

Frequently asked questions

We already have a CIO. Why would we need an AI Director?

The CIO manages the information system and its recurring budget. The AI Director steers AI strategy, EU AI Act compliance, and value measurement. The two roles overlap no more than a CFO and a CIO. In practice, the CIO often requests AI Director support from the second month onwards: they are not equipped to arbitrate AI governance decisions at executive level while simultaneously running existing infrastructure. See the work of Go DSI on the costs and benefits of a fractional CIO — the logic is analogous for a Fractional AI Director.

Our AI budget is not at that level.

Tier 1 at 2 700 € excl. VAT per month amounts to 8 100 € over 3 months — a fraction of the cost of a failed AI project. A typical failed AI project costs between 60 and 200 k€ (Bpifrance Le Lab). The upfront scoping therefore represents a demonstrated return ratio of 1:7 to 1:25, before the first use case has reached production. Additionally, the weekly tech watch digest included across all tiers helps avoid poor tool choices — an error documented at 20 to 50 k€ in SME projects.

Why is this priced below a full-time AI Director?

A senior full-time AI Director costs between 12 000 and 18 000 € per month in total employment costs, not counting the recruitment process (3 to 6 months) and the risk of a poor hire. A Perello engagement starts within 15 days, adapts to your pace, and can be terminated without notice beyond the first month. You pay for what you need, when you need it.

What is Phase 1 launch pricing?

In the absence of publicly signed references to date, we have chosen to position our rates below our estimated market value. This rate is contractually guaranteed for the duration of your initial commitment. The adjustment will take effect after 3 signed clients — your terms remain unchanged until your anniversary date.

What does the 30-day guarantee cover?

If within the first 30 days you consider that the commitments described in your proposal have not been met, you may terminate the contract in writing. We will refund the first month in full, without penalty, within 10 business days. No justification is required.

AI moves too fast. Won't your recommendations become obsolete?

The Perello method rests on stable principles — governance, value measurement, simplicity, continuous improvement — not on tools. Technical choices are reviewed at the monthly committee. The contract includes a quarterly roadmap audit. If a model changes, you are supported through the migration, not left to start over.

Why you and not a consulting firm?

A mid-sized consulting firm charges 50 to 500 k€ per engagement and deploys junior consultants (Artefact, AI in SMEs in Europe). Perello provides a single senior interlocutor at a total cost 5 to 20 times lower, with the same methodological rigour. You are not funding a coordination team: you are funding decisions and deliverables.

Why not hire an AI Director internally?

A full-time AI Director costs 12 to 18 k€ per month in total employment costs (Reemind), plus 6 to 9 months of recruitment, plus the risk of departure within 18 months. The Fractional AI Director engagement starts within 15 days, costs 30 to 60 % less, and ends with 30 days' notice if your needs change.

Begin with a scoping call

You describe your situation — AI projects underway or on hold, identified EU AI Act constraints, company size, available budget. Together, we confirm the tier suited to your context. The call lasts 30 minutes. It is not a sales presentation: it is a scoping session.

If the approach is not the right fit, you leave with the elements to move forward on your own. If it is, we deliver a proposal within 72 hours.

Request your scoping call (30 min)

Or explore our VIP 1-to-1 accompaniment offer — for leaders seeking a strategic peer for their personal trajectory rather than company-wide AI oversight.

Perello Consulting — SIRET available on request. Privacy policy available at perello.consulting. Qualiopi certification in progress.

Orchestrator: Alpha — Perello Consulting | 2026-04-16