The CIO Leadership Event

Against the backdrop of a global economic recession and alarmingly unpredictable markets, enterprise CIOs are juggling short-term tactics with long-term strategy as they look toward 2010 to revitalize their businesses. Some CIOs are even discovering a silver lining in the current downturn in the opportunities to re-prioritize projects that streamline business processes, optimize IT spending or refocus on engaging customers more directly.Companies with strong financial positions are acquiring competitors to grow marketshare, so IT must be agile enough to rapidly integrate new businesses into current operations. Business process redesign (BPR) is emerging as a No. 1 priority at many organizations, and the expanding CIO role is trending strongly toward business leadership skills. CIO magazine’s State of the CIO 2009 research shows more than two-thirds of enterprise IT leaders already have significant responsibilities in business units beyond IT.

From a technology standpoint, 2009 will spark heightened interest and ongoing investments in IT solutions that strengthen companies moving forward — such as business intelligence and data analytics, data center/storage virtualization, videoconferencing, Software as a Service offerings and a host of web-based software and services. Farther out on the horizon, but definitely catching CIO attention, are cloud computing models that promise even greater control over variable IT costs.Through interactive workshops, detailed case studies and presentations by peer CIOs, this CIO Leadership Event will deliver actionable, immediately useful ideas to help senior IT/business executives keep their companies running, drive sales, boost customer engagement, manage risk and drive greater process efficiencies across the board.

CIO magazine and the CIO Executive Council’s fifth annual Ones to Watch award identifies the rising stars in IT. To be honored, these future CIOs must have demonstrated leadership, driven innovation and delivered value to their business; in short, they will soon be able to head up their own IT organization.

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