Fractional CHROs in Columbus Making Things Happen in 2025

Columbus Interim Chief People Officers to Know

Columbus has quietly become one of the Midwest’s most dynamic business hubs. With Fortune 500 companies, a fast-growing startup scene, and major investments in logistics, fintech, healthcare, and education, this city is no longer flying under the radar. But with growth comes complexity—and that’s where fractional CHROs step in.

Whether it’s a tech company scaling beyond its first 50 employees or a family-run business modernizing its people operations, organizations in Columbus are increasingly turning to fractional Chief People Officers to bring strategy, clarity, and leadership to the table.

At Digital Reference, we’re spotlighting fractional leaders who are helping Columbus companies grow smarter—without overhiring or overbuilding.

How We Curate Our Regional Lists

We take reputation seriously. Every professional featured here has been selected based on Digital Reference’s methodology:

✅ Clear public presence as a fractional or interim CHRO/CPO
✅ Active within the Columbus metro area
✅ Demonstrated experience with growth-stage or complex organizations
✅ Ability to align HR systems with company values and operational strategy
✅ Known for execution, not just advice

We don’t list people who just could do the work. We focus on those who are already doing it.

Columbus Fractional CHRO to Know

🔹 Kim Troy

Founder, Civilis Consulting | Fractional Chief People Officer | Leadership Strategist
Kim Troy leads Civilis Consulting, a firm that helps mission-driven businesses and nonprofits build values-based people strategies. As a fractional CHRO, Kim works with leadership teams to align talent, culture, and performance in a way that supports long-term, scalable impact. She’s especially strong in guiding executive teams through organizational change, culture building, and cross-functional team alignment.

🔍 Specialties: Founder coaching, nonprofit HR strategy, people-centered leadership, change management
📍 Based in: Columbus, OH

Why Columbus Companies Are Hiring Fractional CHROs

Columbus businesses are growing—but they’re doing it intentionally. Leaders here want systems that fit their size and stage, not bloated HR functions copied from corporations.

Key reasons local companies are hiring fractional CHROs:

• 🧱 Startups moving past the founder-led HR stage
  
  
• 📈 Mid-market firms needing people ops maturity to scale
  
  
• 🧭 Nonprofits and B Corps investing in values-aligned leadership
  
  
• 🔁 Restructuring or preparing for M&A
  
  
• 💡 Hybrid and remote teams needing clarity on policy, performance, and culture
  
  

Fractional HR leaders offer the executive presence and systems thinking needed to lead in these moments—without adding unnecessary overhead.

What Makes a Fractional CHRO Effective in Columbus?

The best fractional CPOs in this region bring:

✅ Strategic discipline paired with real operational experience
✅ A focus on values and leadership alignment
✅ Flexibility to adapt to hybrid, remote, or on-site cultures
✅ Strong communication skills—especially with mission-driven or founder-led orgs
✅ A reputation for building trust quickly

Kim Troy checks all of those boxes—and brings a coach’s mindset to every engagement.

Related Digital Reference Content

If you’re exploring fractional executive talent, check out:

📘 How to Hire a Fractional Executive
A practical guide for founders and operators navigating interim leadership.

📍 The Importance of Professional References
Explore why third-party credibility is more critical than ever in today’s trust-driven hiring market.

📘 Collecting Professional References: The Dos and Don’ts
References are often the make-or-break element of your next opportunity. Yet many professionals still treat the reference process as an afterthought or, worse, scramble to collect them last minute.

📗 The Talent Ecosystem: Why Fractional Operators Are Reshaping the C-Suite
Explore the structural shifts behind the rise of fractional leadership and what it means for your next hire.

Final Word: Columbus Is Growing With Intention—And So Is Its Leadership

From B Corps and nonprofits to venture-backed startups and scaling enterprises, Columbus companies are putting people strategy front and center. But they’re not waiting around for a full-time hire. They’re turning to fractional CHROs who can lead with purpose, implement systems, and align teams—right now.

Kim Troy is already doing that across Ohio and beyond.

She’s not just advising—she’s building workplaces that work.

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