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What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?

Preparing ourselves for what we have today and for what ’ s in the future . So , my list of priorities includes helping the company ’ s global sales force improve processes and systems ; executing on plans for its data and analytics governance programme , as well as the cybersecurity programme ; and realising the benefits of open hybrid cloud using Red Hat ’ s own technologies . Security is something every company should be focused on . The old ways of doing IT and cybersecurity are reaching their expiration point . And at its base , it ’ s because businesses are changing how they are working . Traditional IT security was focused on fortifying , maintaining and policing , but the old data centre perimeter is dissolving and security can ’ t keep up . Digital Transformation demands a change in security programmes , that ’ s where I and other CIOs will be focused ; finding continuous , integrated and flexible security options for a more digital world .

How do you deal with stress and unwind outside of the office ?

and I didn ’ t really question them or the alternatives enough , a way of saying I would have taken some bigger risks .

What are the region-specific challenges when implementing new technologies in Europe ?

Europe has established a global precedent on privacy with GDPR . So , we must make sure everything we do globally meets those standards . I believe the rest of the world benefits from the leadership that Europe has asserted on this topic .

What changes to your job role have you seen in the last year and how do you see these developing in the next 12 months ?

For so long the CIO role has been about control and efficiency and while those remain table stakes to the job , the role has really shifted to growth and innovation . In many companies for a very long time , the highest levels of the company have said IT is not our core competency , so we want this function to be highly reliable at the lowest cost possible . Now , every company is a technology company , so success is paying homage to the past by providing high-reliability and optimising cost but also utilising technology to differentiate . So , the CIO ’ s role has changed to enabling that type of environment and still taking care of the classic ways IT is known . Executives who have been through these cycles are looking around the table and asking , ‘ Who ’ s going

to lead this ?’ This is the opportunity that every CIO has right now . If you want it , it ’ s yours for the taking . It ’ s your time to step up , lead and demonstrate all the things we ’ ve been complaining about not being able to do for so long . This opportunity is great for business-minded CIOs to demonstrate how companies can compete in this digital world .

What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain C-level position in your industry ?

I would say to portray a humble confidence and do your absolute best , letting your results and actions speak for themselves . Too often , leaders with higher aspiration focus on what ’ s next compared to what ’ s now . Demonstrate that you have absolute command of your company ’ s current business model and economics and a clear vision of where it can go . •

I ’ ve been a competitive swimmer my entire life , so for me , I unwind a few early mornings per week . There ’ s nothing like getting in a pool at 5:30am and going hard for 90 minutes . I also really enjoy mountain biking and am fortunate enough to live in the same county where the sport was invented .

If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?

Early in my career I made some choices that were ‘ safe ’ or ‘ the chosen route to success ’

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