TALKING

The traditional corporate world has long been defined by clear-cut C-suite roles – the Chief Information Officer( CIO) leading IT, the Chief Operating Officer( COO) driving operations, the Chief Digital Officer( CDO) overseeing Digital Transformation, and so on. While these distinctions have served organisations well in the past, today’ s fast-paced, AI-driven world calls for something more fluid, adaptive and collaborative.

Today, it’ s important to recognise that the best ideas, the most effective strategies, and the strongest execution come not from rigid hierarchies but from a leadership team that collaborates seamlessly, thinks beyond silos and leverages collective intelligence.

The truth is, we are all technology leaders now. We are all digital. We are all customer-focused. We are all business. And that mindset shift is what sets apart organisations that thrive in disruption from those that struggle to keep up.

C-level roles are expanding – and that’ s a good thing

The past decade has seen substantial change across the business landscape, some driven by AI innovation, and some driven by geopolitical and economic challenges. This transformation has reinforced an essential lesson: the best leaders are not defined by their titles but by their ability to adapt, collaborate and lead across disciplines.

For example, the CIO is no longer just about IT. They must think like a Chief Product Officer( CPO), ensuring that technology serves customer needs and drives business growth. The CDO is no longer just a change agent – they must think and operate like a

Chief Customer Experience Officer( CCXO), ensuring every digital initiative is anchored in seamless user experiences. The CTO is no longer just an engineer’ s role. They must think like a Chief Revenue Officer( CRO), leveraging AI and automation to enable new business models and monetisation strategies.

By embracing a leadership model where expertise flows freely across roles, businesses can move faster, integrate acquisitions more effectively and position themselves as leaders in their industry.

We are all digital. We are all customer-focused. We are all business.

Beyond silos: Leadership as a Collaborative Intelligence System

Jean-Philippe Avelange, Chief Information Officer at Expereo

Many organisations struggle with Digital Transformation because they isolate responsibility – treating technology as an IT problem, customer experience as a marketing challenge, or AI as a niche project. For a Digital Transformation to be successful today, organisations must build a leadership culture where everyone is accountable for transformation. To do this, organisations should ensure that:

• Technology is embedded in every decision, not just IT. Whether in finance, operations, or sales, leaders must think like technologists and leverage datadriven decision-making.

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