NEW YORK and LONDON, Aug. 31, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Organizations are hiring and elevating Chief Digital Officers (CDOs) to forge new initiatives and digital strategies, build market share, and challenge the status quo, according to the quarterly Executive Monitor released today by Boyden Global Executive Search.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=35647.
“A CDO is a digitally savvy, business-driven leader who has what it takes to transform a traditional business into a data-driven company,” said Pierre Fouques Duparc, Leader of Boyden’s Global Technology Practice and Managing Partner, Boyden France. “They combine marketing and management experience with technical know-how and strategic vision to align and improve business operations across the enterprise.”
The report covers the prioritization of CDOs and their teams in talent acquisition, challenges in terms of upgrading and integrating digital platforms, cybersecurity and data protection. The Executive Monitor also looks at C-suite sentiment on CDO hiring, expected CDO trends, and key related developments in big data, cloud, mobile, the Internet of Things, 3D printing and drones.
“The best Chief Digital Officers are curious, flexible, adaptable, have a view into the future, and are at ease in a change environment,” said Roger T. Duguay, Managing Partner, Boyden Montreal. “For many companies, CDOs are also effectively taking on the role of Chief Transformation Officer, with the goal of challenging the status quo and taking the business to the next level. Our clients want CDOs who bring fresh insight and know what needs to be done, even if they have never done it before.”
The new report from Boyden also focuses on the following topics affecting CDO and digital team hiring:
- CDOs as leaders of organizational initiatives as well as development of digital products and services
- Role of CEOs in driving digitalization
- CDOs as the key partner of Chief Information Officers and Chief Marketing Officers
- Unexpected growth of CDOs in the public sector and government
- Accelerated hiring of CDOs with economic recovery
“The CDO’s new charter is a larger role, which includes guiding and navigating the organization through the storm of digital transformation,” explained Dinesh Mirchandani, Managing Partner, Boyden India and Global Board Member, Association of Executive Search Consultants. “The CDO’s new role allows the CMO to continue with the core task of ensuring a healthy presence in markets, while the CIO remains in charge of managing enterprise IT. When the CDO, CMO and CIO work together as a team, the organization will emerge wiser and stronger than before.”
“Clients are engaging us in more and more Chief Digital Officer roles, which are often better driven by the CIO rather than the CMO,” added Vicky Maxwell Davies, Partner, Boyden UK. “CIOs understand the business model, big program delivery and big transformation, which includes data and cybersecurity. Thus, if you’re among the top five percent of CIOs, you’re among the best candidates for CDO positions.”
The full Boyden Executive Monitor report is available at www.boyden.com.
About Boyden World Corporation
Boyden is a global leader in retained executive search and talent advisory services with more than 70 offices in over 40 countries. Founded in 1946, Boyden specializes in senior executive search, interim management and human capital consulting across a broad spectrum of markets and sectors. For further information, please visit www.boyden.com.
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Kara Condon, for Boyden
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