When a CEO loses their HR leader, sometimes overnight, it creates a ripple effect that disrupts every part of the organization. Payroll slips. Employees start whispering. Executives pick up HR duties they weren’t trained for. Trust erodes quietly, but quickly.
At The Christopher Group (TCG), we’ve seen this story unfold far too often. HR isn’t just another department, it’s the backbone of culture, compliance, and confidence. When that backbone breaks, the entire organization feels the impact. This is why we believe fractional HR leadership is not just a trend, it’s a necessity.
A Message That Resonated with Over 30,000 People
Recently, I shared a post on LinkedIn about this very issue: the silent crisis that occurs when an HR leadership role sits vacant. The response was overwhelming. In less than 24 hours, over 30,000 people viewed, shared, and commented on the message. The post went viral because it touched a nerve with leaders everywhere who have lived through this challenge.
Executives, HR leaders, and consultants across industries echoed a common theme: “We’ve been there. We’ve seen how quickly things unravel without strong HR leadership.” That level of engagement confirmed what we’ve known all along, this is a universal problem affecting companies big and small, across industries and geographies.
The Hidden Cost of a Missing HR Leader
Most organizations underestimate just how damaging the loss of an HR leader can be. It doesn’t just create extra work, it creates instability. Here’s what we see happen when HR leadership disappears:
- Productivity drops as other leaders scramble to cover gaps.
- Risk rises when compliance issues slip through the cracks.
- Top talent leaves when culture weakens and trust breaks down.
The truth? It’s not just a vacancy, it’s a crack in the foundation of your business.
Why Fractional HR Works
CEOs don’t bring in a fractional HR executive because it’s trendy. They do it because they need immediate stability and expertise to protect their organization.
A fractional HR leader provides:
- Instant leadership stabilization while you search for the right full-time hire.
- Credibility and experience to restore trust quickly.
- Proven playbooks for keeping people, culture, and compliance on track.
This isn’t about “less HR.” It’s about the right HR, at the right time, when your business needs it most.
The TCG Difference
At TCG, we’ve spent decades refining our approach to fractional and interim HR leadership. Our mission isn’t to simply “fill seats.” We partner with CEOs and boards to stabilize the organization, protect its culture, and drive measurable results. With our network of elite HR professionals, we can deploy leaders who are ready to step in immediately and deliver:
- Engaged, effective leadership from day one.
- Operational stability during times of uncertainty or transition.
- Stronger retention, fewer risks, and healthier cultures.
What This Means for You
Your people won’t wait for HR to catch up. They form opinions and behaviors in real-time, and once trust is lost, rebuilding it is ten times harder. Don’t gamble with your culture, compliance, or leadership credibility. Bring in a fractional HR executive who can lead decisively, protect what matters, and give your organization the stability it needs to move forward.
About Eric Torigian
Eric Torigian serves as the Managing Partner of The Christopher Group’s Interim and Fractional Services Division, bringing over three decades of global HR leadership across Fortune 500 companies and private equity-backed organizations. As a seasoned Global CHRO and transformation expert, Eric has built a distinguished track record leading complex business turnarounds, scaling operations, and delivering measurable value across a wide range of industries. His portfolio includes executive roles at iconic organizations such as Ford, Pepsi, NBC/Universal, and Comcast, as well as leadership assignments in private equity environments with assets ranging from $35B to $40B. Whether stabilizing operations, building executive teams, or driving organizational design, Eric consistently delivers results through a strategic, people-first approach. To learn more about Eric, visit his bio page.