July 10, 2025

Ditch the Title: Why Chief Innovator May Be More Important Than CIO

SPM Mythbusters Series

3 min read

Key Takeaways

The traditional CIO role is too often associated with legacy systems and maintenance.
Organizations need leaders focused on driving innovation. The actual job title doesn't matter.
Prioritize forward-thinking individuals who can embrace change and make use of new technology.

Is it time to retire the title "CIO"?

It's a bold question, but it's worth asking. Too often, the Chief Information Officer role is linked to the past, not the future.

The CIO problem: stuck in the past

The term "Chief Information Officer" brings to mind data centers, help desks, and keeping the systems running. These are important things, of course. However, new ideas are often overlooked or delayed.

The need for innovation leaders

That's why we're seeing so many new titles emerge: Chief Technology Officer, Chief Digital Officer, Chief Innovation Officer. There is a reason for this that is linked directly with a person who leads a culture of innovation. If you want to bring ideas and revenue, all you need is the people to be ready.

The best leaders have all of the goals aligned to a team success, if people don't know what to do then you are at a disadvantage!

What really matters: mindset and action

What will really change what’s important with getting results is:

Getting someone who’s forward-thinking
Who can show to others why something will or will not succeed
Show a path forward to be the most innovative

Stop sticking to old ideas

It's not a title that drives innovation. It's a way of thinking. It's about empowering leaders to champion new ideas, experiment with new technologies, and challenge the status quo. It's time to prioritize innovation, regardless of what you call the person leading the charge.

Ditch the outdate name and mindset and you can improve your organization today!

Tag(s): ValueOps , Clarity , Strategic Portfolio Management , SPM

Jason Kotlinski

Jason Kotlinski serves as Product Manager for Clarity with clients all across the globe. He is responsible for customer-facing aspects of product management, leading development of key marketable features, and assisting senior management with backlog prioritization and new feature definition.

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