The Birth of the CIO+: From IT Leader to CEO Successor

Historically, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) has been viewed as the leader of IT infrastructure, responsible for maintaining systems, proactively protecting an organization against cyber attacks, and managing enterprise software. While these obligations remain critical, the role has dramatically evolved.

Today’s next generation CIO is a business strategist and, in many cases, successor to the CEO. With digital transformation and AI at the center of corporate growth, CIOs are now expected to drive revenue, enhance customer experiences, and creative competitive advantages in overall value creation.

Hence, the term CIO+ has evolved as the key driver when recruiting modern CIOs. For CEOs and Operating Partners, understanding the CIO+ mandate is essential for making key leadership decisions, optimizing organizational structures, and ensuring investments deliver real impact.

A new competency model for the CIO+

The modern CIO+ is now required to be a highly effective communicator and relationship builder across the entire organization, and at the board level. Competencies such as strong communication skills, change management, humility, managing uncertainty, and high financial acumen are front-and-center expectations of the new CIO+.

Driving business growth beyond IT management

The best technology leaders are no longer reactive problem solvers, they are proactive business architects. Their success is measured not just by uptime and IT efficiency, but by revenue growth, digital innovation, and achieving overall business success.

The CIO+ impacts revenue, not just cost savings

Whereas traditional CIOs were focused on cost containment and operational efficiency, CIO+s are revenue enablers, leveraging AI, automation, and analytics to drive new business opportunities and customer success. In many cases, they are building new tech-driven profit centers that will change the strategy of the entire business.

The CIO+-CEO relationship is critical

Digital transformation is no longer a siloed IT initiative – it’s a boardroom priority. The CIO+ must work closely with the CEO to ensure technology investments align with corporate strategy and value creation. Together, they are strategic leaders in enterprise growth.

Technology is a core competitive advantage

Companies that fail to leverage technology strategically risk obsolescence. The CIO+ role is to future-proof the business by continuously identifying business opportunities, mitigating digital disruption, and determining where AI can be most effective.

Expectations of the CIO+

To maximize the impact of the next generation, CEOs and Operating Partners should shift their expectations to secure top executive talent that will drive value creation through technology. The additional responsibilities should be at the front end of the business versus additional back-office responsibilities. Championing strategy, shaping investor narratives, and driving sales and customer success outcomes aren’t nice-to-haves - they’re the baseline for CIO+ impact.

• From cost center to profit center: Technology initiatives should have measurable revenue or performance improvements leading to successful exits.
• From infrastructure to customer success: The CIO+ should play a direct role in improving customer satisfaction, retention, up sales, and engagement through digital tools and AI.
• From siloed unit to cross-functional leadership: The CIO+ must collaborate with finance, operations, and marketing teams to ensure technology leads to accelerated value creation.
• From security-focused to risk-focused: Cybersecurity has morphed into a business resilience issue that affects M&A deals, brand reputation, regulatory compliance, and in some cases, national security.

Today’s CIO+ is a strategic business leader, responsible for driving revenue, improving operational efficiency, and enabling growth. For CEOs and Operating Partners alike, leveraging the CIO+ evolving role can unlock untapped value across the business. The companies that recognize this shift – and invest in CIO+s as potential successors to the CEO – will have a significant competitive advantage in the years ahead.