The 10th edition of World CIO 200 Summit – Singapore Edition, hosted at the prestigious SP JAIN Global School of Management, concluded on a high note, bringing together the region’s most influential CIOs, tech visionaries, and digital leaders under the transformative theme, “Dawn of a New Decade.”
The summit commenced with a Welcome Keynote from Tushar Sahoo, Founder & Chairman of GEC Media Group. In his address, Tushar emphasized the critical role CIOs play in shaping the future of business, especially in a decade driven by AI, cybersecurity, and digital innovation. His remarks set an energizing tone for the day, underscoring the summit’s mission of enabling purposeful collaboration and celebrating tech leadership.
Andy Lau, Executive Board Member of the Global CIO Forum, added: “We believe in driving change not just within enterprises, but in collaboration with governments across Southeast Asia. By aligning with public sector innovation goals, we aim to build stronger digital ecosystems, promote local talent, and accelerate national tech agendas. The World CIO 200 Summit serves as a platform where such partnerships take root and flourish.”
Frankie Shuai, Singapore Country Ambassador for the Global CIO Forum, delivered an inspiring Country Ambassador Address, spotlighting Singapore’s dynamic and forward-thinking technology landscape. He emphasized the power of CIO collaboration in driving business resilience and digital excellence across industries.
This was followed by an opening address by Rashmi Udaykumar, CEO & HOC, SP Jain School of Global Management at Singapore, who welcomed global delegates and reinforced Singapore’s pivotal role as a hub for digital advancement in Asia.
One of the day’s most compelling sessions featured David Allott, Field CISO, APJ at Veeam Software, who unpacked the pressing topic: “Data Under Siege.” His keynote addressed emerging data threats and strategies for robust protection and recovery in an increasingly complex digital ecosystem.
The summit’s Power Panel Discussion on digital transformation strategies was a standout segment, moderated by Athreya HD, Partner at Forvis Mazars. The panel brought together industry leaders:
- David Allott, Field CISO, APJ Veeam
- Miao Song, Global CIO, GLP
- Sadiq Rowther, SVP & CDIO, Adecco Group Asia Pacific
- Manju Jalali, Global Head of IT, International Baccalaureate
- Jackson Ng, CTO & COO, Singapore & Regional Head of FinTech Asia, Azimut Group
The discussion provided attendees with invaluable perspectives on building agile, digitally resilient enterprises.
The summit also featured keynote addresses from thought leaders such as:
- Bryan Wong, Head of Region – SEA, Glean, who offered practical insights on accelerating innovation and workplace productivity.
- Dr. Julian Lo, CTO, IGS Group Pte. Limited, who explored how organizations can Justify and Maximize the Return on AI Investments.
- Jay Swamidass, Vice President & Global Head of Sales, Rakuten, who shared a powerful vision for the future of global digital ecosystems.
A highlight of the event was the CISO Panel on “AI x Cybersecurity in the New Era”, moderated by Frankie Shuai. Expert panelists included:
- Fenggang Cao, CISO, Mari Bank
- Danny Chan, CISO, Mastercard
- Casper Wang, Cluster CISO – Singapore & ASEAN, Standard Chartered Bank
- Daryl Pereira, CISO-Asia Pacific & Cyber Leader, Google
Together, they explored the intersection of AI and cybersecurity, offering actionable strategies for safeguarding innovation.
The event culminated in the prestigious CIO 200 Awards, recognizing outstanding IT leaders across four distinguished categories:
- Next Gen
- Leader
- Master
- Legend
These awards celebrated CIOs who have made exceptional contributions to technology, innovation, and leadership across sectors.
As the Singapore leg concludes, the World CIO 200 Summit continues its global roadshow, with upcoming editions across various countries. The journey will culminate in a Grand Finale in Egypt, bringing together the top CIOs from around the world for a historic celebration of digital leadership.
