Signal Almost a third of CIOs call orchestrating other tech leaders essential within 18 months

Summary

Deloitte describes the CIO's mandate expanding from technology strategist to AI evangelist and orchestrator. In its Tech Executive Survey, 70% of CIOs say their main role with generative AI is either implementing it across the enterprise or acting as an evangelist who helps teams see its possibilities. As IT becomes less centralised, CIOs act more as orchestrators and integrators than owners of infrastructure. Almost a third say that orchestrating fellow technology leaders will be essential in the next 18 months. The role now requires deeper links to business strategy and enterprise transformation, making the CIO both a change agent and a responsible gatekeeper. Western Digital's CIO describes his job as combining the traditional CIO with chief data, AI and digital officer roles, and urges technology leaders to step up without waiting for permission.