Fractional CHROs in Toronto Making Things Happen in 2025

Toronto Interim Chief People Officers to Know

Toronto’s business landscape is bold, diverse, and scaling fast. From AI startups and fintech challengers to public institutions and nonprofit accelerators, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is home to companies that are rethinking how work gets done—and that means rethinking how executive leadership is structured.

At Digital Reference, we’re seeing a powerful shift: more companies across Toronto are turning to fractional CHROs and Chief People Officers (CPOs) to drive strategic alignment between people, purpose, and performance. These leaders bring deep experience, flexible scope, and trusted insights—without the delay (or cost) of a full-time hire.

Some run solo firms. Some are executive advisors. All are embedded, strategic operators who help founders, boards, and leadership teams lead with clarity—especially in moments of growth or transformation.

How We Select Fractional CHROs for Toronto

Our methodology at Digital Reference is designed for quality, not quantity. We highlight professionals who:

• Are actively working in the Greater Toronto Area or serve clients locally
  
  
• Self-identify as fractional, interim, or embedded Chief People Officers or CHROs
  
  
• Have public-facing credibility (via LinkedIn or company websites)
  
  
• Demonstrate real-world experience in high-growth, mission-driven, or complex organizations
  
  
• Are known for bringing repeatable results and reputation-based referrals
  
  

We’re not just listing talent—we’re elevating verified professionals shaping the modern C-suite.

Featured Fractional CHROs in Toronto

🔹 Kelly Glass

Principal, KG & Associates | Fractional CHRO | HR Executive Advisor
Kelly Glass is a Toronto-based fractional HR leader who helps founders and executive teams navigate complex people challenges with confidence. With a background in high-growth companies, private equity, and purpose-driven organizations, she delivers insight with impact. Through KG & Associates, Kelly leads initiatives spanning talent strategy, leadership alignment, and org design.

🔍 Specialties: Interim HR leadership, talent strategy, change management
📍 Based in: Toronto, ON

🔹 Shalini Phillips

Founder, The Fractional CHRO | People Strategist | Culture Builder
Shalini is a go-to advisor for fast-moving companies that need to mature their people practices—fast. Through her boutique firm, The Fractional CHRO, she partners with clients to align people systems with company values and growth goals. Known for balancing empathy with execution, she works especially well with founder-led teams and scaling startups.

🔍 Specialties: People ops, DEI strategy, leadership coaching, values alignment
📍 Based in: Toronto, ON

🔹 Brenda Schacht

Fractional CHRO | HR Strategist | Leadership Partner
Brenda is a seasoned executive offering fractional CHRO services with a strong foundation in enterprise HR leadership. Her expertise includes supporting companies through high-stakes transformations—from M&A to international expansion to performance culture resets. Based in the Toronto area, Brenda is often called in when companies need strategy, structure, and results in a short time frame.

🔍 Specialties: HR transformation, enterprise scale-ups, organizational design
📍 Based in: Toronto, ON

🔹 Reene Mehta

Fractional CPO | People-First Strategist | Advisor to Purpose-Driven Orgs
Reene brings a powerful blend of corporate experience and human-centered strategy to her fractional CHRO work. She works with purpose-driven companies, early-stage ventures, and mission-led organizations to embed equity, trust, and clarity into their people systems. Based in Toronto, she’s known for her ability to connect people experience with business performance.

🔍 Specialties: Inclusive culture building, trust-based HR, coaching & development
📍 Based in: Toronto, ON

Why Toronto Is a Magnet for Fractional People Leaders

Toronto has long been a global talent hub. But what’s changing is how that talent is deployed. Companies here are getting sharper about executive hiring—and more creative in how they access senior leadership.

Fractional CHROs are showing up in key moments, including:

• 💸 Post-funding growth where culture needs to scale with headcount
  
  
• 🔄 Founder fatigue, where leaders need operational backup on all things people
  
  
• 🧱 Infrastructure gaps (e.g., lack of HR systems, undefined policies, compliance needs)
  
  
• 🤝 M&A activity or investor reporting that demands strategic HR fluency
  
  
• 🌎 DEI and ESG initiatives requiring guidance with depth and care
  
  

These aren’t tactical HR hires—they’re strategic thought partners who build trust fast and help teams make smart people decisions.

Toronto Use Cases: When to Bring in a Fractional CHRO

🧭 Pre- or post-Series A/B funding: Build people infrastructure before pain points hit
🏢 Professionalizing culture: Move from “vibes” to values-based performance
💼 Post-acquisition integration: Navigate multiple teams, systems, and norms
📉 Burnout risk or team misalignment: Bring in strategic support and clarity
🔎 Preparing for compliance and scale: Get HR maturity without full-time bloat

A great fractional CPO can help you build your HR foundation now—so your full-time people leader can scale it later.

Why Reputation > Resume in Fractional Hiring

We say it often at Digital Reference: what others say about your work matters more than what you say about yourself.

In a fractional world—where trust is the product and time is limited—reputation is everything. That’s why our platform prioritizes reference-backed professionals, not just polished profiles.

The CHROs featured here aren’t just experienced. They’re endorsed, referred, and trusted.

Related Resources on Digital Reference

Dig deeper into the rise of fractional executives and how to use them well:

📘 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 Thought: Toronto’s People Leadership Playbook Is Changing

You don’t need to hire a full-time CHRO to get full-scale people strategy. Toronto’s fractional executives are proving that you can have high-context, high-impact leadership—without a long hiring cycle or full-time headcount.

Whether you’re navigating headcount growth, team resets, or founder fatigue, the fractional CPO is one of the smartest hires you can make.

Kelly, Shalini, Brenda, and Reene are already helping organizations across the GTA lead with purpose, clarity, and heart.

They’re not just consultants. They’re partners in building better companies—and they’re making things happen.

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