Chief Data Officer role still misunderstood by senior executives and must be clarified to be successful in the AI age.

5th October 2023 – London, UK – Data Leaders™, a leading intelligence and service provider to Chief Data Officers (CDOs) and their leadership teams has launched the Voice of the Chief Data Officer report calling for CDOs to be given a seat at the top table. 

The peer-reviewed report, based on insights from leading international Chief Data Officers during the Data Leaders Guild Think Tank, highlights still-common misconceptions about the critical role CDOs play in enabling end-to-end business transformation. It warns that, without swift correction, companies are at great risk of being overwhelmed with AI-related challenges and face serious disruption in their transformation journeys.

Unclear CDO Role Undermines Their Authority to Operate  

Voice of the Chief Data Officer reveals that many CDOs struggle with unclear goals that are not aligned to strategic corporate objectives. This stems from a lack of data literacy among senior executives, a fundamental underappreciation of the far-reaching implications of data for their business. Without full CEO backing, the CDO’s legitimacy to operate in key business areas is undermined.

The report calls for the removal of the “CDO glass ceiling,” and for the CDO to take their seat at the executive leadership table with CEO as owner of business transformation, and CDO recognised chief connector of data and value.

Richard Pope, Co-Founder and CEO, Data Leaders commented: “The findings of this report underline the urgency with which companies must act to remain relevant and competitive by empowering CDOs who are ready to lead with vision and foresight. This means ensuring CDOs not only have a seat at the top table but a clear and well-defined role in steering transformation in line with corporate strategy.”

Companies and CDOs at Risk from AI Tsunami Due to Lack of Data Readiness

The report reflects that while CDOs recognise the tremendous opportunities AI brings for transformation, it also brings great risk to both the organisation and the CDO who, should AI falter, will likely bear the brunt.

The report reflects that while CDOs recognise the tremendous opportunities AI brings for transformation, it also brings great risk to both the organisation and the CDO who, should AI falter, will likely bear the brunt.

According to Data Leaders’ proprietary benchmarking data, most companies lack companywide data quality, data architecture and data governance programmes. The arrival of generative AI into the mainstream and fast-evolving AI technologies presents a tipping point for organisations to act now or face significant disruption.

Pascal Clément, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Data Leaders stated: “Simply put, without good data, AI is unattainable. In spite of thirty years of data management projects, many companies still do not have the foundations in place required to effectively harness the transformative power of AI. Companies must empower their CDOs to accelerate this. Those that do not will face compounded challenges as AI evolves exponentially and risk being overwhelmed by an AI tsunami.”

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