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Chief Information Officer (CIO)

  • Writer: Ade McCormack
    Ade McCormack
  • Jul 31
  • 1 min read

What is a Chief Information Officer (CIO)?

A Chief Information Officer (CIO) is the executive responsible for ensuring that information, technology and digital capabilities enable the organisation to achieve its strategic objectives. Traditionally focused on IT operations and systems, the modern CIO increasingly acts as a business leader, helping the organisation use technology, data and AI to improve performance, resilience and adaptability.


Within the Intelligent Organisation model, the CIO is responsible for developing much of the organisation's cognitive infrastructure: the digital platforms, data flows, organisational nervous system and AI capabilities that allow the organisation to sense, decide and act more effectively. While technology remains important, the CIO's ultimate purpose is to increase organisational intelligence rather than simply deliver IT services.


Whilst there are forward-thinking CIOs, many are focused on what are essentially IT manager activities


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