{"id":145012,"date":"2026-08-20T05:11:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T09:11:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/?post_type=white-papers&#038;p=145012"},"modified":"2026-08-20T09:42:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T13:42:42","slug":"chief-information-officer-hiring-and-profile-research","status":"publish","type":"white-papers","link":"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/en_gb\/white-papers\/chief-information-officer-hiring-and-profile-research\/","title":{"rendered":"The Chief Information Officer: A constant amidst the storm"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"l-section wpb_row us_custom_c320f359 height_auto\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_2-3 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_middle type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_57552547\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-post-elm post_taxonomy us_custom_6df4bc3a intcate has_text_color style_simple color_link_inherit\"><a class=\"term-11353 term-technology-digital-ai-and-cybersecurity\" href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/en_gb\/white-papers-categories\/technology-digital-ai-and-cybersecurity\/\">Technology, Digital, AI, and Cybersecurity<\/a><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><h1 class=\"w-post-elm post_title us_custom_1653a91b color_link_inherit\">The Chief Information Officer: A constant amidst the storm<\/h1><div class=\"w-hwrapper valign_middle align_none\" style=\"--hwrapper-gap:0.7rem\"><time class=\"w-post-elm post_date entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-20T05:11:43-04:00\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">20th August 2026<\/time><div class=\"w-btn-wrapper align_none\"><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_4 us_custom_4ca8aa8f text_none icon_atleft\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-CIO-A-constant-amidst-the-storm-N2Growth.pdf\" aria-label=\"Button\"><i class=\"fas fa-download\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><div 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class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:3rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_3669c25d has_bg_color\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/en_gb\/white-papers\/chief-information-officer-hiring-and-profile-research\/#Key_takeaways\" >Key takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/en_gb\/white-papers\/chief-information-officer-hiring-and-profile-research\/#Who_is_todays_CIO_A_snapshot_of_the_S_P_500_CIO_today\" >Who is today\u2019s CIO? A snapshot of the S&amp;P 500 CIO today<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/en_gb\/white-papers\/chief-information-officer-hiring-and-profile-research\/#Whats_changed_in_the_CIO_profile_since_2023\" >What\u2019s changed in the CIO profile since 2023?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/en_gb\/white-papers\/chief-information-officer-hiring-and-profile-research\/#Whats_next_Action_items_for_boards_sitting_CIOs_and_aspiring_CIOs\" >What\u2019s next? Action items for boards, sitting CIOs, and aspiring CIOs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/en_gb\/white-papers\/chief-information-officer-hiring-and-profile-research\/#Methodology\" >Methodology<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;font-family:Libre Baskerville;font-weight:400;font-style:normal\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_88b86cca\" ><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_takeaways\"><\/span>Key takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div class=\"w-hwrapper valign_middle us_custom_53d985ca has_text_color align_none\" style=\"--hwrapper-gap:0.5rem\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>The CIO hiring picture has stayed remarkably stable since 2023.<\/strong> Across the S&amp;P 500, external hiring has held at 60%, the first-time vs. repeat split has stayed the same, and the preference for candidates with company-wide responsibility remains strong. The overall pattern is one of continuity. There is some movement at the edges, however.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"w-hwrapper valign_middle us_custom_53d985ca has_text_color align_none\" style=\"--hwrapper-gap:0.5rem\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Business credentials are falling while technical credentials hold steady.<\/strong> MBA share among new CIOs fell from 38% to 29% since 2023, while CS-degree share has remained stable at around 49%.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"w-hwrapper valign_middle us_custom_53d985ca has_text_color align_none\" style=\"--hwrapper-gap:0.5rem\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Digital and product engineering has doubled as a path to the chair.<\/strong> Its share among first-time CIO hires rose from 6% to 15% since 2023, making it the third-largest entry point and opening the door to candidates outside traditional IT leadership.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"w-hwrapper valign_middle us_custom_53d985ca has_text_color align_none\" style=\"--hwrapper-gap:0.5rem\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>CIOs are reaching the chair later.<\/strong> Median appointment age rose from 48 to 50 since 2023, and the under-40 share fell from 13% to 4%. Boards appear to be favoring seasoned judgment over fast-tracking.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>The past three years have witnessed breakneck technological change, and the pace is not stopping. AI\u2019s capabilities are evolving quickly, first from chatbots to agents and now from agents to agentic systems. Physical-world AI is also starting to emerge, while quantum computing moves from theory to near-term possibility and risk. As a result, the role of the Chief Information Officer has moved from important to decisive. Boards and executive teams are relying on their CIOs to lead the enterprise to effective and efficient use of technology, even as it constantly changes.<\/p>\n<p>In the following pages, we give a detailed look at who boards are hiring to fill the CIO seat and how hiring patterns have been changing over the past few years.<\/p>\n<p>This paper\u2019s insights are intended to help:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><b>Boards<\/b> understand the market and hiring patterns, over time and by industry<\/li>\n<li><b>Sitting CIOs<\/b> grasp how larger trends are shaping board expectations<\/li>\n<li><b>Aspiring CIOs<\/b> as they seek to position themselves for the chair<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><h2 style=\"text-align: left;font-family:Libre Baskerville;font-weight:700;font-style:normal\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_d2bc9a17\" ><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_is_todays_CIO_A_snapshot_of_the_S_P_500_CIO_today\"><\/span>Who is today\u2019s CIO? A snapshot of the S&amp;P 500 CIO today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><h3 style=\"text-align: left\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_4b89e1e4\" >Most first-time CIOs came from IT and had enterprise reach<\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>First-time CIOs most often, but not overwhelmingly, come from IT general leadership positions (36.7%), with applications\/enterprise systems (10.0%), infrastructure &amp; operations (6.7%), cybersecurity\/risk (4.2%), enterprise architecture (2.5%), and data\/analytics\/AI (0.8%) rounding out the other types of IT-roles the first-time CIOs held<sup>1<\/sup>. On the non-IT side, business leadership (non-IT) is the largest pathway at 16.7%, followed by digital\/product engineering (10.0%), transformation\/strategy (5.0%), consulting\/advisory (4.2%), and vendor\/product leadership (3.3%).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Share of first-time CIOs by prior role family<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div><div class=\"w-image hide_on_mobiles align_none\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Share-of-first-time-CIOs-by-prior-role-family.svg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row us_custom_9cbc772d hide_on_default hide_on_laptops hide_on_tablets via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_31780e0c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"impreza-frm-chart-1\" class=\"impreza-frm-chart-container\" data-chart-type=\"tree-map\" data-title=\"Tree Map Chart\" data-frm-chart-labels=\"IT General Leadership; Business Leadership \n(non-IT); Digital \/ Product \nEngineering; Applications \/ Enterprise \nSystems; Infrastructure &amp; \nOperations (I&amp;O); Technology \/ \nStrategy; Cybersecurity \/ Risk; Consulting \/ \nAdvisory; Vendor Product Leadership; Enterprise \nArchitecture; Data \/ Analytics\/ AI\" data-frm-chart-groups=\"\" data-frm-chart-series=\"[36.7, 16.7, 10, 10, 6.7, 5, 4.2, 4.2, 3.3, 2.5, 0.8]\" style=\"width:100%;height:1000px;min-height:50px;\" data-frm-chart-legends=\"\" data-frm-chart-colors=\"#F36E16; #F2853D; #FFA060; #FFA060; #FFBC90; #FFBC90; #FFBC90; #FFBC90; #FFBC90; #FFE1CE; #FFE1CE\" data-frm-chart-extra=\"[]\">Chart would be displayed here<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Among first-time CIOs, enterprise-wide scope is the clear default at 78.1%. Divisional\/BU experience accounts for 20.2%, and regional roles for just 1.8%. Boards clearly value candidates who have had responsibility across a full company rather than just across a single unit or geography.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Prior role scope, first-time CIOs<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row us_custom_9cbc772d via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"impreza-frm-chart-2\" class=\"impreza-frm-chart-container\" data-chart-type=\"pie\" data-title=\"Half Pie\" data-frm-chart-labels=\"Regional; Divisional -BU; Enterprise-wide\" data-frm-chart-groups=\"\" data-frm-chart-series=\"[1.8, 20.2, 78]\" style=\"width:100%;height:200px;min-height:50px;\" data-frm-chart-legends=\"\" data-frm-chart-colors=\"#D9D9D9; #823438; #F2853D\" data-frm-chart-extra=\"{&quot;is_half&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">Chart would be displayed here<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><h3 style=\"text-align: left\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_4b89e1e4\" >Boards prefer external candidates but split between first-time and repeat CIOs<\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>In the aggregate, boards show a preference for external candidates (59.8%) over internal candidates (40.2%).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Internal vs. external hires<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_31780e0c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"impreza-frm-chart-3\" class=\"impreza-frm-chart-container\" data-chart-type=\"fill\" data-title=\"Horizontal Fill\" data-frm-chart-labels=\"\" data-frm-chart-groups=\"\" data-frm-chart-series=\"[59.8]\" style=\"width:100%;height:220px;min-height:50px;\" data-frm-chart-legends=\"External;Internal\" data-frm-chart-colors=\"#f2853d;#742c38\" data-frm-chart-extra=\"{&quot;show_line&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;show_horizontal&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">Chart would be displayed here<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Industry variation is sharp, however, with Consumer (68.4%) and Financial Services (66.7%) leaning most heavily on outside talent. Industrials (50%) and Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources (50%), on the other hand, have the highest internal-hire rates, though both still split evenly between internal and external hires.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Internal vs. external hires, by industry<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources (n=14) and Consumer (n=19) are small subsets and should be interpreted with caution.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_31780e0c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"impreza-frm-chart-4\" class=\"impreza-frm-chart-container\" data-chart-type=\"bar-stack\" data-title=\"Across Industries\" data-frm-chart-labels=\"\" data-frm-chart-groups=\"Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources; Business and Professional Services; Consumer; Financial Services; Healthcare and Life Sciences; Industrials; Technology, Media, and Telecommunications\" data-frm-chart-series=\"[59.5, 59.1, 50.00, 63.6, 66.7, 50.00, 68.4],[40.5, 40.9, 50.00, 36.4, 33.3, 50.00, 31.6]\" style=\"width:100%;height:700px;min-height:50px;\" data-frm-chart-legends=\"% External; % Internal\" data-frm-chart-colors=\"\" data-frm-chart-extra=\"[]\">Chart would be displayed here<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>While boards split nearly evenly between selecting first-time or repeat CIOs (48.8% first-time and 51.2% repeat), those numbers vary significantly depending on whether the hire is internal (only 18.2% of internal hires have been a CIO before) or external (73.5% are repeat). These ratios may seem natural. Most internal appointments won\u2019t already be a CIO, after all, but it is noteworthy that such a high percentage of external appointments are repeat appointments. Other C-suite roles don\u2019t always have such high rates of selecting for candidates that already hold the given chair. Externally appointed CHROs, for example, are first-time CHROs 46% of the time.<sup> 2<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>First-time vs. repeat CIOs<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_31780e0c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"impreza-frm-chart-5\" class=\"impreza-frm-chart-container\" data-chart-type=\"fill\" data-title=\"Fill\" data-frm-chart-labels=\"Overall; External hires; Internal hires\" data-frm-chart-groups=\"\" data-frm-chart-series=\"[51.2, 73.5, 81.8]\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px;min-height:50px;\" data-frm-chart-legends=\"Repeat CIO (held prior CIO role); First-time CIO\" data-frm-chart-colors=\"#f2853d;#742c38\" data-frm-chart-extra=\"{&quot;show_line&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;show_horizontal&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">Chart would be displayed here<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 style=\"text-align: left\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_c8696771\" >A majority hold master\u2019s degrees, and CS degrees outnumber MBAs<\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>More than half of current CIOs (55.1%) hold a master\u2019s-level credential or higher. CS degrees (any level) outnumber MBAs 49.3% to 33.9%.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Degrees by level and kind<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_31780e0c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"impreza-frm-chart-6\" class=\"impreza-frm-chart-container\" data-chart-type=\"slider\" data-title=\"Slider Chart\" data-frm-chart-labels=\"Holds a master&#039;s level credential of higher;Have a CS degree;Have a MBA\" data-frm-chart-groups=\"\" data-frm-chart-series=\"[55,49,34]\" style=\"width:100%;height:200px;min-height:50px;\" data-frm-chart-legends=\"\" data-frm-chart-colors=\"#f2853d; #742c38; #6E6C6B\" data-frm-chart-extra=\"[]\">Chart would be displayed here<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>CS degrees and MBAs both run high among Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources CIOs (66.7% and 58.3% respectively), the highest combined credentialing of any sector. The subset is small (n=14), so the magnitudes should be treated with caution, but the pattern is consistent with what one would expect in a technical, regulated industry.<\/p>\n<p>Healthcare and Life Sciences CIOs hold the second highest industry proportion of CS degrees (54.5%). MBAs are the second most common in Consumer (47.4%).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>CS and MBA share, by industry<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_31780e0c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"impreza-frm-chart-7\" class=\"impreza-frm-chart-container\" data-chart-type=\"dotplot\" data-title=\"Across Industries\" data-frm-chart-labels=\"Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources; Business and Professional Services; Consumer; Financial Services; Healthcare and Life Sciences; Industrials; Technology, Media, and Telecommunications\" data-frm-chart-groups=\"\" data-frm-chart-series=\"[58.3, 28.6, 47.4, 29.6, 33.3, 36, 30.5],[66.7, 45, 50, 51.9, 54.5, 40, 48.5]\" style=\"width:100%;height:500px;min-height:50px;\" data-frm-chart-legends=\"% with MBA; % with CS Degree\" data-frm-chart-colors=\"#f2853d;#742c38\" data-frm-chart-extra=\"[]\">Chart would be displayed here<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_c2f20314\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><small>Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources (n=14) and Consumer (n=19) are small subsets and should be interpreted with caution. A CIO holding both a CS degree and an MBA is counted in both.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><h2 style=\"text-align: left;font-family:Libre Baskerville;font-weight:700;font-style:normal\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_c1680152\" ><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_changed_in_the_CIO_profile_since_2023\"><\/span>What\u2019s changed in the CIO profile since 2023?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><h3 style=\"text-align: left\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_4b89e1e4\" >Digital and product engineering is gaining ground on IT leadership<\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Among first-time CIOs, IT general leadership remains the top entry point in both cohorts, but its share has dropped roughly 9 points (40.9% before 2023 vs. 31.5% since 2023). Infrastructure &amp; operations dropped over the same period, from 9.1% to 3.7%. Meanwhile, digital and product engineering rose from 6.1% to 14.8%, more than doubling its share and becoming the third-largest pathway among hires since 2023, after non-IT business leadership roles (16.7%). The shifts point in the same direction: boards are drawing first-time CIOs from a less IT-traditional and more product-oriented pool than they did three years ago, even if IT still leads the way.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Prior role family, first-time CIOs, before 2023 and 2023 and after<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_31780e0c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"impreza-frm-chart-8\" class=\"impreza-frm-chart-container\" data-chart-type=\"bar\" data-title=\"Prior role family\" data-frm-chart-labels=\"Enterprise Architecture; Data \/ Analytics \/ AI; Vendor \/ Product Leadership; Cybersecurity \/ Risk; Consulting \/ Advisory; Transformation \/ Strategy; Digital \/ Product Engineering; Infrastructure &amp; Operations (I &amp; O); Business Leadership (non-IT); Applications \/ Enterprise systems; IT General Leadership\" data-frm-chart-groups=\"\" data-frm-chart-series=\"[1.5, 1.5, 4.5, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.1, 9.1, 16.7, 10.6, 40.9],[3.7, 0, 1.9, 7.4, 5.6, 5.6, 14.8, 3.7, 16.7, 9.3, 31.5]\" style=\"width:100%;height:800px;min-height:50px;\" data-frm-chart-legends=\"Before 2023; 2023 and after\" data-frm-chart-colors=\"\" data-frm-chart-extra=\"[]\">Chart would be displayed here<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>MBA share fell from 38.0% among CIOs appointed before 2023 to 29.4% among those appointed since. CS-degree share has remained relatively stable, at 48.2% before 2023 and 50.5% since.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>CS and MBA share, before 2023 vs. 2023 and after<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_31780e0c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"impreza-frm-chart-9\" class=\"impreza-frm-chart-container\" data-chart-type=\"slope-2\" data-title=\"Slope Chart\" data-frm-chart-labels=\"% with a CS degree; % with MBA\" data-frm-chart-groups=\"Before 2023; 2023 and after\" data-frm-chart-series=\"[48.2, 38],[50.5, 29.4]\" style=\"width:100%;height:360px;min-height:50px;\" data-frm-chart-legends=\"Before 2023; 2023 and after\" data-frm-chart-colors=\"#742c38; #f2853d\" data-frm-chart-extra=\"[]\">Chart would be displayed here<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><small>CS share counts any CIO with a CS degree at any level. A CIO holding both a CS degree and an MBA is counted in both.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><h3 style=\"text-align: left\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_c8696771\" >Boards are appointing older CIOs than they used to<\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Most CIOs reach the chair in their late 40s or early 50s. The current median age at appointment is 49, with 36.3% of CIOs appointed between 45 and 49. Another 28.2% are appointed between 50-54, meaning the majority of appointments (64.5%) were in the 45-54 range when they were appointed.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Age at appointment, current CIOs<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_31780e0c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"impreza-frm-chart-10\" class=\"impreza-frm-chart-container\" data-chart-type=\"single-line-stack\" data-title=\"\" data-frm-chart-labels=\"Under 40;40-44;45-49;50-54;55-59;60+\" data-frm-chart-groups=\"\" data-frm-chart-series=\"[9,12,36,28,12,3]\" style=\"width:100%;height:150px;min-height:50px;\" data-frm-chart-legends=\"Before 2023;2023 and after\" data-frm-chart-colors=\"#FFBC90; #FFA060; #F36E16; #F2853D; #FFA060; #FFBC90\" data-frm-chart-extra=\"[]\">Chart would be displayed here<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Since 2023, the median appointment age rose from 48 to 50; the under-40 share fell from 13.3% among hires before 2023 to 3.8% among hires in 2023 and after, while the 50\u201354 bracket climbed from 23.4% to 34.0%.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Age at appointment, before 2023 vs. 2023 and after<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_31780e0c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"impreza-frm-chart-11\" class=\"impreza-frm-chart-container\" data-chart-type=\"bidir\" data-title=\"\" data-frm-chart-labels=\"Under 40;40-44;45-49;50-54;55-59;60+\" data-frm-chart-groups=\"\" data-frm-chart-series=\"[13,17,36,23,9,2],[4,7,37,34,15,4]\" style=\"width:100%;height:300px;min-height:50px;\" data-frm-chart-legends=\"Before 2023;2023 and after\" data-frm-chart-colors=\"\" data-frm-chart-extra=\"{&quot;middle_label&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">Chart would be displayed here<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 style=\"text-align: left\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_c8696771\" >Female appointments are up, with wide variation by industry<\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>One in five CIOs is female, with the share moving from 18.7% for hires made in 2022 and prior to 23.2% for hires made in 2023 and after.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><h4 style=\"text-align: left\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_735b2e0c\" >One in five CIOs is female<\/h4><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Female CIOs hold 20.7% of S&amp;P 500 chairs; male CIOs hold the remaining 79.3%.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Gender, before 2023 vs 2023 and after<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_2 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_31780e0c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_58b1af09\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Before 2023<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"w-image align_center\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"233\" height=\"148\" src=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Before-2023.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Before-2023.png 233w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Before-2023-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Before-2023-150x95.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_58b1af09\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>2023 and after<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"w-image align_center\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"235\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2023-and-after.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2023-and-after.png 235w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2023-and-after-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2023-and-after-150x96.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 235px) 100vw, 235px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Female appointments are concentrated in Industrials (32.1%) and Business and Professional Services (31.8%) and nearly absent in Financial Services (6.7%) and Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources (7.1%).<\/p>\n<p>Two patterns are worth flagging. First, the distribution does not track cleanly with the technical-vs-commercial split of the industry. Industrials is technical-heavy and has the highest female share; Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources is also technical-heavy and has nearly the lowest. The gender balance across these industries cannot be explained as a story about which sectors hire more technical CIOs. Second, the two sectors with the fewest female CIOs have little else in common. They differ on credential mix, where MBA share runs 58.3% against 29.6%, and on internal hiring, at 50% against 33.3%. No single sector characteristic explains the gap.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_fea32ba2 size_custom with_line width_default thick_4 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Female and male share, by industry<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:0rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_31780e0c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div id=\"impreza-frm-chart-12\" class=\"impreza-frm-chart-container\" data-chart-type=\"bar-stack\" data-title=\"Across Industries\" data-frm-chart-labels=\"\" data-frm-chart-groups=\"Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources; Business and Professional Services; Consumer; Financial Services; Healthcare and Life Sciences; Industrials; Technology, Media, and Telecommunications\" data-frm-chart-series=\"[92.9, 68.2, 78.9, 93.3, 77.3, 67.9, 79.3],[7.1, 31.8, 21.1, 6.7, 22.7, 32.1, 20.7]\" style=\"width:100%;height:700px;min-height:50px;\" data-frm-chart-legends=\"%Male; %Female\" data-frm-chart-colors=\"\" data-frm-chart-extra=\"[]\">Chart would be displayed here<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><small>Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources (n=14) and Consumer (n=19) are small subsets and should be interpreted with caution.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><h2 style=\"text-align: left;font-family:Libre Baskerville;font-weight:700;font-style:normal\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_c1680152\" ><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_next_Action_items_for_boards_sitting_CIOs_and_aspiring_CIOs\"><\/span>What\u2019s next? Action items for boards, sitting CIOs, and aspiring CIOs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><h3 style=\"text-align: left\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_4b89e1e4\" >For boards<\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reconsider what<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the CIO role requires i<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">n 2026 and beyond. The profile that produced strong CIOs through the cloud and mobile eras may not be the profile that produces strong CIOs through the AI and quantum eras. Separate what the role requires from what the role has historically looked like, and d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ecide what mix you need<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> before writing the next search brief.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Audit your last CIO search brief against the data. If it hard-codes industry experience or a traditional IT path as a requirement, your spec may be out of step with<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> how the role is being filled.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Two-thirds of external hires come from outside the hiring company\u2019s sector, and more than twice as many first-time CIOs come from digital and product engineering backgrounds than they did in 2022 and prior.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Develop your internal CIO succession candidates by building their technical depth alongside their P&amp;L and enterprise-leadership fluency. Give them opportunities to lead product-building initiatives, not just IT operations. Expose them externally through boards, peer forums, and cross-industry technical communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treat the CIO seat as one of the highest-leverage selection decisions you will make this decade. The executive most responsible for guiding the enterprise through AI, agentic systems, and quantum risk should be selected with the same rigor, breadth, and forward-looking criteria you bring to CEO succession.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><h3 style=\"text-align: left\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_4b89e1e4\" >For sitting CIOs<\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treat technical depth as a continuing investment, not a closed chapter. The CIOs who stay relevant through the next wave of change are likely to be the ones who carry the technical weight themselves rather than delegating it. Spend more time with the AI, agentic, and quantum questions than your current role strictly requires.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deepen your fluency in finance, business strategy, and the operating realities of the functions you support so you can co-lead AI, digital, and transformation initiatives with your C-suite peers rather than simply enabling them. Technical depth gets you to the table. Business fluency determines what you can do once <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you\u2019re<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> there.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delegate operations, not thinking. Build a high-caliber IT leadership team and an increasingly automated technology operating model so that day-to-day execution runs reliably without your direct attention, freeing you to stay close to the strategic and technical questions that matter <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Build relationships outside your company with other CIOs, technology leaders, and the broader vendor and analyst ecosystem. The pace of change makes peer learning more valuable than it used to be, and external perspective is increasingly part of what makes a CIO effective.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><h3 style=\"text-align: left\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_4b89e1e4\" >For aspiring CIOs<\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Build leadership experience across multiple technology functions, not just one. The pipeline data shows boards drawing first-time CIOs from a wider set of pathways than they did three years ago: IT general leadership still leads, but digital and product engineering has more than doubled its share. Leaders who can credibly speak to operations, applications, and product engineering will compete well across more of the openings boards are filling.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adjust your timeline. The under-40 share of new CIOs has dropped sharply, and the median appointment age has moved from 48 to 50. If you assumed an appointment in your late 30s, plan for your mid- to late 40s or early 50s, and use the additional time to deepen your enterprise leadership and technical credibility.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Invest early in fluency on AI, agentic systems, quantum, and the broader technology landscape, so that when you arrive in the CIO seat you can immediately operate as an externally credible advisor to the board and CEO, not just as an internal technology leader.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prepare for a role that is changing as you climb toward it. Today\u2019s CIO manages a technology function. Tomorrow\u2019s CIO will likely own enterprise AI strategy and govern how AI agents work alongside human teams.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Boards still value technical fluency in the seat, so invest in yours.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Aim past today\u2019s CIO and toward the role as <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it will exist in 2027 and beyond<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h2 style=\"text-align: left;font-family:Libre Baskerville;font-weight:700;font-style:normal\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_d2bc9a17\" ><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Methodology\"><\/span>Methodology<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div class=\"wpb_text_column text-lead\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>N2Growth examined over 5,000 individual data points across 21 analytical dimensions, including hiring source, tenure, gender, education, prior experience, and industry background, to analyze and compare the career trajectories and profiles of every CIO in the S&amp;P 500 (N = 246) at the time of the study (March to May 2026). Not every attribute was verifiable for every CIO. Percentages are calculated on the CIOs for whom the attribute is known rather than on the full 246, and records with unknown values are excluded rather than counted as negative. Where applicable, the dataset was split into a pre-2023 cohort (n=134) and a post-2023 cohort (n=112) to identify longitudinal shifts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><small><sup>1 <\/sup>We define IT-traditional pathways as IT general leadership, applications\/enterprise systems, infrastructure &amp; operations, enterprise architecture, data\/analytics\/AI, and cybersecurity\/risk. Digital and product engineering is excluded from this grouping because, although technical, it represents a different kind of leadership track focused on building and shipping software products rather than running IT functions.<\/small><\/p>\n<p><small><sup>2 <\/sup>S&amp;P 500 <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CHROs<\/span>. N2Growth analysis.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"vc_separator wpb_content_element vc_separator_align_center vc_sep_width_100 vc_sep_pos_align_center vc_separator_no_text vc_sep_color_grey wpb_content_element  wpb_content_element\" ><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_l\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_r\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span>\n<\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:25px\"><\/div><h3 style=\"text-align: left;font-family:Libre Baskerville;font-weight:700;font-style:normal\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_d2bc9a17\" >FAQs<\/h3><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_dd0d88e3 size_custom with_line width_default thick_2 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs us_custom_8be72b76 n2hmacdn accordion toggle_style_1 remove_indents\" style=\"--sections-title-size:18px;--sections-gap:0.5rem;\"><div class=\"w-tabs-sections titles-align_none icon_plus cpos_right\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"abef\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-abef\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"w-tabs-section-title\" itemprop=\"name\">What does a CIO do?<\/h3><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/button><div  class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-abef\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\" itemprop=\"text\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column text-lead\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>A chief information officer leads a company\u2019s technology strategy, systems, and IT organization. Modern CIOs go further, guiding enterprise decisions on AI adoption, data, cybersecurity risk, and digital transformation, and serving as a strategic advisor to the CEO and board. In most large companies, the CIO holds enterprise-wide responsibility rather than overseeing a single division or region.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"lcd5\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-lcd5\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"w-tabs-section-title\" itemprop=\"name\">What percentage of companies have a CIO?<\/h3><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/button><div  class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-lcd5\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\" itemprop=\"text\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column text-lead\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Roughly half of S&amp;P 500 companies (49%) have a CIO proper, with 246 CIOs in the chair as of mid-2026. Estimates vary depending on which titles are counted; this study includes only executives holding the CIO title itself, not adjacent roles such as CTO or chief digital officer.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"od8b\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-od8b\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"w-tabs-section-title\" itemprop=\"name\">How is a CIO different from a CTO?<\/h3><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/button><div  class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-od8b\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\" itemprop=\"text\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>A CIO manages the technology that runs the business, while a CTO typically builds the technology the business sells. The CIO owns internal systems, enterprise infrastructure, data, and IT strategy; the CTO leads product engineering and customer-facing technology. The lines are blurring, however, as boards increasingly draw CIOs from digital and product engineering backgrounds, a pathway that has more than doubled among first-time CIO hires since 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"pe30\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-pe30\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"w-tabs-section-title\" itemprop=\"name\">How do you become a CIO?<\/h3><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/button><div  class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-pe30\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\" itemprop=\"text\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Most first-time CIOs come up through IT leadership roles, but the pathways are widening. IT general leadership remains the most common entry point at 37%, followed by non-IT business leadership at 17% and digital and product engineering at 10%. Enterprise-wide experience matters most: 78% of first-time CIOs held roles with company-wide scope before appointment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"gecd\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-gecd\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"w-tabs-section-title\" itemprop=\"name\">What is the median age of a CIO?<\/h3><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/button><div  class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-gecd\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\" itemprop=\"text\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>The median age at appointment for S&amp;P 500 CIOs is 49, and most reach the role between 45 and 54. Since 2023, the median appointment age has risen from 48 to 50, while the share of CIOs appointed under 40 has fallen from 13% to 4%.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"rf69\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-rf69\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"w-tabs-section-title\" itemprop=\"name\">What degree do you need to become a CIO?<\/h3><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/button><div  class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-rf69\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\" itemprop=\"text\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>There is no single required degree, but more than half of S&amp;P 500 CIOs (55%) hold a master\u2019s-level credential or higher. Computer science degrees now outnumber MBAs 49% to 34%, with MBA rates declining among recent hires.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"p020\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-p020\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"w-tabs-section-title\" itemprop=\"name\">Do companies hire CIOs internally or externally?<\/h3><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/button><div  class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-p020\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\" itemprop=\"text\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>The majority of CIOs are external hires. Among S&amp;P 500 companies, 60% of current CIOs came from outside the organization, with Consumer and Financial Services relying most heavily on external talent. Nearly three-quarters of external hires have held the CIO title before.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"d0c2\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-d0c2\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"w-tabs-section-title\" itemprop=\"name\">How is the CIO role changing?<\/h3><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/button><div  class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-d0c2\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\" itemprop=\"text\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>The CIO role is shifting from technology management to enterprise leadership. Boards are appointing older, more experienced candidates from a wider range of backgrounds, and increasingly expect CIOs to guide enterprise decisions on AI, agentic systems, and emerging technology risk.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><h3 style=\"text-align: left;font-family:Libre Baskerville;font-weight:700;font-style:normal\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_d2bc9a17\" >Connect with the authors behind the research<\/h3><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_dd0d88e3 size_custom with_line width_default thick_2 style_solid color_primary align_center\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:30px\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_2 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:3rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-hwrapper valign_middle align_none\" style=\"--hwrapper-gap:1.2rem\"><div class=\"w-image us_custom_fba38608 align_none\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/team\/tony-morales\/\" aria-label=\"Tony Morales\" class=\"w-image-h\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tony-Morales.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tony-Morales.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tony-Morales-295x300.png 295w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tony-Morales-1005x1024.png 1005w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tony-Morales-12x12.png 12w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tony-Morales-150x153.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"w-vwrapper align_none valign_top\" style=\"--vwrapper-gap:0.3rem\"><h4 style=\"font-size: 18px;text-align: left;font-family:Libre Baskerville;font-weight:700;font-style:normal\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_cda6f729\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/team\/tony-morales\/\" target=\"_blank\">Tony Morales<\/a><\/h4><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Chairman<\/strong><br \/>\n<span class=\"orangetext\">Lead Author<\/span><br \/>\nChicago, IL<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-hwrapper valign_middle align_none\" style=\"--hwrapper-gap:1.2rem\"><div class=\"w-image us_custom_fba38608 align_none\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/team\/phillip-webster\/\" aria-label=\"Phillip Webster\" class=\"w-image-h\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Phillip-Webster.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Phillip-Webster.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Phillip-Webster-295x300.png 295w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Phillip-Webster-1005x1024.png 1005w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Phillip-Webster-12x12.png 12w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Phillip-Webster-150x153.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"w-vwrapper align_none valign_top\" style=\"--vwrapper-gap:0.3rem\"><h4 style=\"font-size: 18px;text-align: left;font-family:Libre Baskerville;font-weight:700;font-style:normal\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_cda6f729\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/team\/phillip-webster\/\" target=\"_blank\">Phillip Webster<\/a><\/h4><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Senior Fellow<\/strong><br \/>\n<span class=\"orangetext\">Lead Editor<\/span><br \/>\nBuffalo, NY<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_custom\" style=\"height:30px\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_2 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:3rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-hwrapper valign_middle align_none\" style=\"--hwrapper-gap:1.2rem\"><div class=\"w-image us_custom_fba38608 align_none\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/team\/carlos-alfonso-gonzalez\/\" aria-label=\"Carlos Alfonso Gonzalez\" class=\"w-image-h\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Carlos-Alfonso-Gonzalez.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Carlos Alfonso Gonzalez\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Carlos-Alfonso-Gonzalez.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Carlos-Alfonso-Gonzalez-295x300.jpg 295w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Carlos-Alfonso-Gonzalez-1005x1024.jpg 1005w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Carlos-Alfonso-Gonzalez-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Carlos-Alfonso-Gonzalez-150x153.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"w-vwrapper align_none valign_top\" style=\"--vwrapper-gap:0.3rem\"><h4 style=\"font-size: 18px;text-align: left;font-family:Libre Baskerville;font-weight:700;font-style:normal\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_cda6f729\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/team\/carlos-alfonso-gonzalez\/\" target=\"_blank\">Carlos Alfonso Gonzalez<\/a><\/h4><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><span class=\"orangetext\">Lead Author<\/span><br \/>\nMexico City, Mexico<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_auto\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_middle type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_34f574e2 has_bg_color type_sticky\"><div class=\"vc_column-overlay\" style=\"background:rgba(0,0,0,0.55)\"><\/div><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_3-2 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_middle type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:3rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><h3 class=\"w-post-elm post_title us_custom_83f515c0 has_text_color color_link_inherit\">The Chief Information Officer: A constant amidst the storm<\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-btn-wrapper align_none\"><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_4 us_custom_492179a4 icon_atleft\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.n2growth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-CIO-A-constant-amidst-the-storm-N2Growth.pdf\"><i class=\"fas fa-download\"><\/i><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Download Full White Paper<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_auto\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_auto\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-separator size_large\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row us_custom_462a4039 height_large\" id=\"connect\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_grid cols_1-2 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\" style=\"--columns-gap:3rem;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container type_sticky\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><h3 style=\"text-align: left;font-family:Libre Baskerville;font-weight:700;font-style:normal\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_ecb63cb6\" >Placing and advising the leaders of tomorrow<\/h3><div class=\"w-separator us_custom_dd0d88e3 titlehr size_custom with_line width_default thick_2 style_solid color_primary align_left\" style=\"height:5px\"><div class=\"w-separator-h\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>As an executive search firm, companies call upon us to find world-class talent and we deliver. But, it\u2019s our fully integrated portfolio of leadership advisory services that sets us apart.<\/p>\n<p>Contact us to learn how we can help you attract, develop, and unleash leaders.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container us_custom_6c359a68 has_bg_color\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><h3 style=\"text-align: left\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading us_custom_cda6f729\" >Let's get in touch<\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Send us a message and a consultant will reach out shortly.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><script>\nvar gform;gform||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,themeScriptsLoaded:!1,isFormEditor:()=>\"function\"==typeof 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