A: Nick Athanassiadis: “Yesterday’s CIO is today’s new COO. With the industry increasingly working hand-in-hand with technology, the CIO and COO roles are increasingly overlapping, and, in many cases, can even be interchangeable. The CIOs role is more about having a keen understanding of a business and how specific information technology can help that particular business move forward and meet its goals. It is no longer simply about choosing technology and managing projects.”

A: “The modern CIO has to posses the same management skills as any other C-level executive and in particular, those of a COO. Without these skills, it will be impossible to be effective in the boardroom.”

A: “If the CIO reports to the CEO and is hired to implement the strategic vision of the company, then internal buy-in becomes an easier task. On the other hand, the internal buy-in will depend solely on his ability to sell the solution or direction to different levels within the organisation.”

A: This is a must-have for any C-level executive. Information technology is still viewed in many instances as a ‘necessary evil’ or a pure cost. Therefore, part of the job of the CIO is changing the perception that many executives have that a senior level information technology officer is not needed at the executive ‘table’ and can actually improve a company’s bottom-line results.

A: Making sure that the CEO embraces technology as a must-have asset of the company that needs to evolve and grow Involve stakeholders and division heads in pro-active discussions and brainstorming sessions Use the business processes and discuss specific examples where tools can have a positive impact to the bottom line If IT is done well, it saves company money rather than being a profit-center, and this fact makes the position disposable in many executives’ eyes.

A: Innovation is important but in my opinion there are several steps before reaching this stage.

Intimate knowledge of the business

Engineering and re-engineering processes

Successful implementation of technology tools that can increase efficiencies and decrease cost

Be one step ahead of the business next step (acquisition, new product, new service) to help the new step rather than joining after the fact

When all of the above steps have been utilised it will be time to start innovating so the business can reach the next plateau and differentiate itself in the market place.