“The rise of the CDO has been exponentially fast! So fast in fact, no other role comes close in comparison growth wise – not even the CIO,” Anna Frazzetto, Chief Digital Technology Officer & SVP at Harvey Nash, said recently.
Frazzetto will keynote on “The Rise of The CDO, Our CEO of The Future,” at the NYC CDO Summit, presented by Centric Digital and hosted by Thomson Reuters on April 27, 2016 .
The CDO Club has tracked the Chief Digital Officer hiring trend for several years and found the rate of CDO hires has been doubling every year, to 2,000 CDOs globally in 2015.
The CDO Club is also tracking the number of CDOs who have become CEO and Board Director, and our original research was quoted just this week in a CMS Wire article titled More Digital Business = More Chief Digital Officers:
Emphasizing the strategic value of the CDO role, Mathison said the most startling statistic this year is the rise of the CDO to CEO. According to the CDO Club numbers:
- 2015: 11 CDOs became CEO and five CDOs became board directors/non-executive director (NED)
- 2014: Nine CDOs became CEO and four became director/NED
- 2013: Six CDOs became CEO and four became director/NED
- 2012: Three CDOs became CEO and one became NED/Director
Now data from the 2016 Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey will reveal key insights on the meteoric rise of the CDO, the changing nature of the role and its challenges, and the pathway from CDO to CEO.
In her presentation, Frazzetto will use real-life examples and research from close to 4,000 global business and technology respondents to the annual CIO survey.
“What may occur in the next 3-5 years could be similar to the thrills and twists of a great rollercoaster. There will be some exhilarating highs as the growing importance of digital in our organizations places the CDO at the heart of business growth, some stomach-churning challenges that will need to be faced, as well as unexpected twists,” she added.
The Rise of the CDO Career
Using survey data going back to 2013, Frazzetto will outline the rise of the Chief Digital Officer as a role and career. This includes the current challenges they face, including the squeezing of priorities for the CIO and CMO.
The Busiest CDOs in 2016
“No two CDOs are the same and everyone approaches their environment in their own way, but there are trends from your peers that can help you plan ahead,” Frazzetto said.
She will discuss how the Chief Digital Officer role will change in the years ahead, and answer:
- How will the CDO role change across various industries?
- Will the role be different in different global regions?
- Which sectors are embracing digital disruption fastest?
- Are economic conditions slowing digital adoption?
Your Pathway to Becoming The CEO (If You Want To!)
“The role of the CDO has not had to weather an economic slowdown, yet,” Frazzetto warned.
However, with more responsibility for driving revenue via digital channels, the CDO may be able to help insulate organizations from a wider economic slowdown.
“As analogue businesses morph into digital service providers,” she explained, “it could be the CDO who takes greater responsibility for business growth, making them the likely successor to many CEOs in the next 10 years.”
How a CDO responds to ongoing disruption, digital skills shortages, market slowdowns and revenue responsibility will dictate their future. A future that blends for the first time the best of business, technology and marketing, and brilliantly positions the CDO to rise as the future CEO.
For Chief Digital Officers looking to make the jump to CEO, this is the presentation you cannot afford to miss.
The CDO Summit in New York has sold out every year. Register now to ensure your spot at this important event.
If you are tasked with understanding what digital leaders must do in order to succeed in almost any industry, the best place to learn more is at the CDO Summit.
Register today for the NYC CDO Summit presented by Centric Digital, hosted at Thomson Reuters on April 27, 2016.
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The CDO Summit is the “must-attend” digital event of the year. The 2013, 2014 and 2015 CDO Summits received stellar endorsements from dozens of speakers and attendees alike:
“Sometimes a conference comes along that hits the trifecta – hot topic, high-caliber attendees, and stellar location. The first Chief Digital Officer Summit reached that mark with ease, and I look forward to attending the next one.”
Eric Hellweg
Managing Director, Digital Strategy/Editorial DirectorHarvard Business Review
“Congratulations and thanks to David Mathison for spotting the need for community and collaboration in the growing Chief Digital Officer space, and for having the wherewithal, network, and organizational talent to put together such a top-notch event in its inaugural year. Next year’s summit should be even more of a must-do for anyone working digital at senior levels in all kinds of businesses.”
Teddy Goff
Digital DirectorPresident Barack Obama 2008 and 2012
“David, here’s a handy C^3 test for conference value: Did I learn at least three new perspectives? Check. Did I meet at least three interesting people? Check. Did I take back at least three relevant pieces of news I can use? Check. Flying colors for the Chief Digital Officer Summit 2013! Thank you so much, and yes, I’d be very pleased to participate next year!”
Perry Hewitt
Chief Digital OfficerHarvard University
“Congratulations to David Mathison and his team on the simply amazing job they did on the inaugural Chief Digital Officer Summit. Probably the most informative, insightful, on target, entertaining, collaborative, thought provoking, and inspiring conferences I have ever attended. I learned more about my business and what I do in the past 12 hours than I have from any research white paper, articles or blogs over the past 12 months. The range of topics and speakers assembled were incredibly diverse, informative, collaborative, and most of all, inspiring. It has invigorated me to be the best possible professional CDO I can be. David Mathison’s skills as a moderator were impeccable, bringing out the best of the speakers and keeping the conversation flowing. His intimate and insightful knowledge of this space is only out-shined by his humility and graciousness. Kudos to David and his organizing team.”
Mark Keys
Vice President, Client SolutionsMoving Interactive