For businesses that depend on their internal technology and data, the CIO is a pivotal hire. Here is how to approach it.
Define the mandate
A CIO's role can lean toward running and modernising core enterprise systems, driving internal digital transformation, or strengthening data and security. These call for different leaders, so define the priority first. The CIO owns the internal technology backbone the business runs on, and being clear about what that backbone most needs — stability, transformation, or protection — shapes the profile to look for.
A business enabler, not just IT
The modern CIO role has moved from keeping systems running to enabling the business — improving how it operates through technology, unlocking value from data, and managing risk. The strongest CIOs connect technology decisions to business outcomes and partner with the rest of the leadership team, rather than running IT as an isolated cost centre. Hiring for that business-enabling capability, not just technical management, is what distinguishes a strong appointment.
Security and resilience
With cyber and resilience risks growing, a key part of the modern CIO's role is protecting the business — its systems, data, and ability to keep operating. A capable CIO takes security and resilience seriously and builds them in, rather than treating them as afterthoughts. Assessing a candidate's grasp of these risks, and their track record of managing them, is increasingly important given the stakes.
How the search works
Because technology leadership needs technical rigour to assess, a retained search that can evaluate both the technical and leadership dimensions is well suited to finding the right CIO for the business's specific needs and stage.
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Explore Digital & Technology Search →Frequently asked questions
What should you look for when hiring a CIO?
A leader who can run and modernise the internal technology the business depends on, connect technology decisions to business outcomes, and manage growing security and resilience risks — a business enabler, not just an IT manager — matched to your specific priority.
What is the difference between hiring a CIO and a CTO?
A CIO typically owns the internal technology and systems the business runs on, while a CTO owns technology in the product or customer experience. Define which your business needs, as the profiles differ; in smaller businesses one leader may cover both.
Related: What Does a Chief Information Officer Do? · How to Hire a CTO · What Does a Chief Technology Officer Do?
