EC News DeskConnor, in association with GEC Media Group, organized a roundtable discussion on the topic of ‘the agile CIO—navigating the innovation-cost paradigm.’ The US-headquartered Connor provides contract compliance and software asset management services. The event was kicked off by the company’s regional head, Siddharth Tiwari, who stated that the role of the CIO has evolved beyond merely managing IT infrastructure; they are now integral to strategy creation and execution, making today’s IT leaders agents of change.
“The pandemic obviously triggered a massive transformation in companies, some forced and others proactive. This change gave IT leaders some flexibility in budgets, which also brought about huge expectations. After all, we are all working towards strategic business goals with high expectations,” he said.
However, during economic downturns, CIOs focus on smart investments and optimizing existing solutions to create value. “So, imagine if I told you that we can help you unlock the riches hidden within your software assets. We are essentially helping organizations maximize value, acting as treasure hunters to unearth the gold within your software assets. But we’re not just focusing on what’s buried; we’re helping you see the invisible,” he added.
The roundtable discussion, anchored by Jaykumar Mohanachandran, Group CIO of Buzeki Enterprises, delved deep into a variety of topics including how technology investments directly contribute to revenue generation and redefining CIO-CXO partnerships. ‘Controlling the costs related to IT software requires collaboration between IT, procurement, and other departments,’ he remarked.
The CIOs in attendance unanimously agreed that tech innovation has the potential to drive business growth and profitability, but it must be presented in a clear and compelling manner to business stakeholders.
The participants in the discussion included Damian O’Gara, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Kent; Aus Alzubaidi, CIO, MBC Group; Aamir Khan, Head of Enterprise and Data Architecture; Khaldun Al Khaldi, VP-IT from a leading financial institution in the UAE; Vijaykumar Mali, Head of Digital Transformation, Lamprell; Mohamad Gholoom, Governance, and Risk Assessment expert, Ministry of Health and Prevention; Mohammed Ragab, Applications Development Section Head, RTA, Yousif Odeh, IT Manager, Emirates Driving Institute; and Padam Kafle, Head of Innovation, Aster Digital Health.
