As the technology landscape becomes increasingly data-driven and service-oriented, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) has emerged as a key player in fast-moving businesses.
No longer confined to managing IT infrastructure, today’s CIOs are pivotal in shaping business strategy and enabling transformation.
According to Werner Joubert, Commercial SYS Director (South Africa & SADC) at ASUS, the CIO’s role has evolved since the 2010s, transitioning from a technical manager to a strategic leader.
CIOs in South Africa highlight the importance of strategic vision and technological innovation, emphasising expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity as critical leadership competencies for the next decade.
Joubert notes that this evolution reflects the growing need for CIOs to navigate the complexities of digital transformation.
As South African businesses integrate technology into their core operations, the right leadership, talent, and planning can drive growth, adaptation, and innovation.
A business leader and a change agent
The modern CIO is no longer a behind-the-scenes IT manager. They are now business leaders and change agents, collaborating with other executives to achieve shared goals while still overseeing IT strategy and system performance.
As organisations grow in size and complexity, the demand for CIOs with technical expertise and management skills continues to rise.
“Going into 2025, CIOs will be responsible for developing and implementing companies’ AI strategies while countering growing cybersecurity threats, two fields that are not mutually exclusive,” said Joubert.
This underscores the importance of proactive infrastructure resilience and a skilled workforce to mitigate these risks.
Building strategic vendor relationships
Another hallmark of a successful CIO is the ability to cultivate strategic relationships with technology vendors.
According to Joubert, a local research firm noted that with IT spending in South Africa projected to reach R182 billion by 2028, CIOs must ensure cost-effectiveness while maximising value.
Rather than treating vendor relationships as purely transactional, modern CIOs focus on collaboration.
Vendors offering scalable, high-quality solutions can help organisations solve problems, adopt new technologies, and stay ahead of market trends.
For instance, the shift to hybrid work models requires robust infrastructure to maintain employee productivity—an area where vendor partnerships are critical.
Driving innovation and business outcomes
Vendor collaboration also fuels business innovation. By leveraging vendor expertise, CIOs can implement cutting-edge solutions that enhance agility and address emerging challenges. Ultimately, the CIO’s role is to propel the business forward, ensuring technology investments deliver maximum value.
For South African businesses, this means embracing the CIO’s expanded responsibilities and fostering the necessary partnerships to innovate, adapt, and achieve long-term success. With the right leadership and collaboration, organisations can unlock the full potential of technology and thrive in an increasingly digital world.
READ HERE about the expansion of AI in South Africa.
