CFO Slice

Chief information officers are increasingly recognizing cross-functional collaboration as a competitive advantage as technology becomes more closely integrated with business strategy. According to Foundry's 2026 State of the CIO survey, 83% of CIOs report that their roles are evolving to encompass both technology and business leadership, while Deloitte found that 65% reported directly to chief executives in 2025, up from 41% in 2015. However, challenges remain in aligning technology initiatives with broader organizational priorities, with Protiviti reporting that 61% of CIOs are confident in their digital transformation outcomes, compared with just 34% of CEOs and boards. Stronger collaboration between IT, finance, and other business functions can improve decision-making, accelerate innovation, and strengthen support for technology investments, particularly artificial intelligence. CIOs are encouraged to build trust through consistent delivery, communicate transparently about risks and costs, align stakeholders around measurable outcomes, and avoid micromanagement. These capabilities are becoming increasingly important as technology leaders assume greater responsibility for organizational transformation and long-term business performance.