Dive Brief:
- Biogen Inc. is looking for a new CIO who fully understands the financial side of the business, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
- Adriana Karaboutis, executive vice president of technology, business solutions and corporate affairs of Biogen, said she’s looking for a new type of CIO who can use new technology to come up with a new business process.
- Matt Griffiths, the company's former CIO, left in May after just a year in the position. The company has not set a deadline for hiring a new CIO.
Dive Insight:
More and more, companies are looking for CIOs who keep in mind an organization's bottom line. A report released last month by Harvey Nash and KPMG found that more than half of CEOs say they are asking their CIOs to focus more on projects that create revenue and less on saving money.
Karaboutis has financial interests for a new CIO, which fits with recent research that CIOs are increasingly expected to innovate and contribute to a businesses' revenue stream.
"Every leader, including the leader of technology, should understand the economics and cash flow and balance sheets of the company," Karaboutis told the Wall Street Journal. "You can’t generate revenue if you don’t understand those things. Traditionally, CIOs have taken a flyer on that."
Karaboutis said she also wants a CIO with "disruption" experience and innovative ideas about emerging technologies.
