The average tenure of a CIO is notably less than that of other executive roles. The number of CIOs being internally promoted has dropped alarmingly since 2010 as organizations shop for external replacements instead of building on institutional knowledge. Unfortunately, common practice around staffing the CIO role is increasing the chance of continuity-related risks occurring rather than mitigating them.
Implement CIO role succession planning immediately:
- Reenvision the CIO job description to prepare for the future.
- Set a knowledge transfer strategy and work it into your daily operations.
- Craft both a Plan A and a Plan B for your transition out of the CIO role.
- Identify and develop potential successors.
- Know and manage the risks.
Today’s CIOs are expected to future-proof their organizations, and their own role is no exception.
