Research: Improved CEO-CIO Alignment Will Catalyze Strategic Decisions on AI Adoption
Netskope (NASDAQ: NTSK) published global research on Oct 13, 2025 showing that CEO‑CIO alignment is a key factor for strategic AI adoption. The report finds 39% of CIOs feel misaligned with their CEOs and 34% do not feel empowered to set long‑term IT strategy, while 41% say IT infrastructure investment must increase. The research also reports 34% of CIOs are now more involved in non‑IT strategic priorities and 37% say business strategy skills now outweigh technical expertise.
The study surveyed over 200 CIOs in the US and UK and includes expert interviews and recommendations to improve CIO‑CEO conversations across six core areas.
Netskope (NASDAQ: NTSK) ha pubblicato una ricerca globale il 13 ottobre 2025 che mostra che l'allineamento CEO-CIO è un fattore chiave per l'adozione strategica dell'IA. Il rapporto rileva che il 39% dei CIO si sente in disaccordo con i propri CEO e il 34% non si sente autorizzato a definire una strategia IT a lungo termine, mentre il 41% ritiene che gli investimenti in infrastruttura IT debbano aumentare. La ricerca riporta anche che il 34% dei CIO è ora più coinvolto in priorità strategiche non IT e il 37% afferma che le competenze di strategia aziendale hanno ora maggiore peso rispetto all'expertise tecnica.
Lo studio ha intervistato oltre 200 CIO negli Stati Uniti e nel Regno Unito e include interviste con esperti e raccomandazioni per migliorare le conversazioni CIO-CEO in sei aree chiave.
Netskope (NASDAQ: NTSK) publicó una investigación global el 13 de octubre de 2025 que muestra que la alineación entre CEO y CIO es un factor clave para la adopción estratégica de la IA. El informe indica que el 39% de los CIOs se sienten desalineados con sus CEOs y el 34% no se sienten capacitados para definir una estrategia de IT a largo plazo, mientras que el 41% dice que las inversiones en infraestructura de TI deben aumentar. La investigación también reporta que el 34% de los CIOs ahora está más involucrado en prioridades estratégicas no IT y el 37% dice que las habilidades de estrategia empresarial pesan más que la experiencia técnica.
El estudio encuestó a más de 200 CIOs en Estados Unidos y Reino Unido e incluye entrevistas con expertos y recomendaciones para mejorar las conversaciones CIO-CEO en seis áreas centrales.
Netskope (NASDAQ: NTSK)는 2025년 10월 13일 전 세계 연구를 발표했으며 CEO‑CIO 정렬이 전략적 AI 도입의 핵심 요인임을 보여줍니다. 보고서는 39%의 CIO가 CEO와의 정렬이 되지 않는다고 느끼고, 34%는 장기적인 IT 전략 수립에 권한이 부여되지 않는다고 느끼며, 41%는 IT 인프라 투자 증가가 필요하다고 응답했습니다. 연구는 또한 CIO의 34%가 비 IT 전략적 우선순위에 더 많이 관여하고 있고 37%는 비즈니스 전략 역량이 기술 전문 지식보다 더 큰 비중을 차지한다고 말합니다.
이번 연구는 미국과 영국의 200명 이상의 CIO를 대상으로 설문을 실시했으며, 전문가 인터뷰와 여섯 가지 핵심 영역에서 CIO‑CEO 대화를 개선하기 위한 권고안을 포함합니다.
Netskope (NASDAQ : NTSK) a publié le 13 octobre 2025 une étude mondiale montrant que l'alignement CEO-CIO est un facteur clé de l'adoption stratégique de l'IA. Le rapport indique que 39 % des CIO se sentent en décalage avec leurs CEO et que 34 % ne se sentent pas habilités à définir une stratégie informatique à long terme, tandis que 41 % estiment que les investissements dans l'infrastructure IT doivent augmenter. La recherche indique également que 34 % des CIO sont désormais plus impliqués dans des priorités stratégiques non informatiques et que 37 % affirment que les compétences en stratégie commerciale l'emportent désormais sur l'expertise technique.
L'étude a interrogé plus de 200 CIO aux États-Unis et au Royaume‑Uni et comprend des entretiens avec des experts et des recommandations pour améliorer les conversations CIO-CEO dans six domaines clés.
Netskope (NASDAQ: NTSK) veröffentlichte am 13. Oktober 2025 eine globale Studie, die zeigt, dass CEO‑CIO‑Ausrichtung ein Schlüsselfaktor für die strategische KI‑Einführung ist. Der Bericht stellt fest, dass 39% der CIOs sich von ihren CEOs nicht ausgerichtet fühlen und 34% sich nicht befugt fühlen, eine langfristige IT‑Strategie festzulegen, während 41% angaben, dass Investitionen in die IT‑Infrastruktur erhöht werden müssen. Die Studie berichtet außerdem, dass 34% der CIOs nun stärker in nicht IT‑strategische Prioritäten eingebunden sind und 37% sagen, dass GeschäftStrategie-Kompetenzen nun technischer Expertise überwiegen.
Die Studie befragte über 200 CIOs in den USA und Großbritannien und umfasst Expertengespräche und Empfehlungen zur Verbesserung der CIO‑CEO‑Gespräche in sechs Kernbereichen.
التوافق بين الرئيس التنفيذي ومدير المعلومات هو عامل رئيسي في تبني الذكاء الاصطناعي بشكل استراتيجي وفقًا للبحث. يشير التقرير إلى أن 39% من CIOs يشعرون بأنهم غير متوافقين مع الرؤساء التنفيذيين، و<ب>34% لا يشعرون بأن لديهم سلطة وضع استراتيجية تكنولوجيا معلومات طويلة الأجل، بينما يقول 41% أن الاستثمار في بنية IT الأساسية يجب أن يزيد. كما يُشير البحث إلى أن 34% من CIOs أصبحوا الآن أكثر انخراطًا في أولويات استراتيجية غير IT و<ب>37% يقولون أن مهارات استراتيجية الأعمال تفوق الآن الخبرة الفنية.
شملت الدراسة أكثر من 200 CIO في الولايات المتحدة والمملكة المتحدة وتضم مقابلات مع خبراء وتوصيات لتحسين محادثات CIO‑CEO عبر ستة مجالات أساسية.
Netskope (NASDAQ: NTSK) 于2025年10月13日发布全球研究，表明 CEO‑CIO 对齐 是战略性AI采用的关键因素。报告指出 39% 的 CIOs 与 CEO 之间存在错位，34% 的人感到没有被授权制定长期 IT 战略，而 41% 的人表示 IT 基础设施投资必须增加。研究还指出 34% 的 CIO 现在更参与非 IT 的战略优先事项，37% 的人表示商业战略技能现在比技术专长更重要。
该研究对美国和英国的超过 200 名 CIO 进行了调查，并包括专家访谈和对六大核心领域改进 CIO‑CEO 对话的建议。
- 34% of CIOs report increased involvement in strategic priorities
- Report based on interviews plus quantitative survey of 200+ CIOs
- Six core discussion areas identified to guide CIO‑CEO alignment
- 39% of CIOs report misalignment with their CEOs on decisions
- 34% of CIOs do not feel empowered to make long‑term IT strategy decisions
- 41% of CIOs say IT infrastructure investment needs to increase
- Adoption of AI is pushing CIOs into broader strategic roles, with greater responsibilities in transformation, cost control and workforce management
- However,
39% say they’re misaligned with their CEOs on key decisions 41% of CIOs say their business needs to invest more in IT infrastructure and34% do not feel empowered by their CEO to make long-term IT strategy decisions
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Netskope (NASDAQ: NTSK), a leader in modern security and networking for the cloud and AI era, today published new global research underscoring that CEO and CIO (Chief Information Officer) alignment plays a crucial role in the path to strategic AI adoption. While organizational enthusiasm for the promise of AI is seeing CIOs take on broader, more strategic responsibilities, many are seeking stronger support from their CEO to move quickly in achieving these objectives.
The findings, published today in a major new report, Crucial Conversations: How to Achieve CIO-CEO Alignment in the Era of AI, show that
This separation is happening at a time when the role of CIO is expanding into new territory:
Other findings from the research include:
- While just over a third of CIOs believe their business is investing enough in modernizing IT infrastructure,
41% say investment needs to increase. One in four CIOs (26% ) say it’s difficult to get buy-in from their CEO on modernization and transformation strategies. - CEOs are looking for CIOs to strike a careful balance: drive innovation and AI adoption, while controlling cost and risk. In particular, CEOs expect CIOs to be measured in their approach: focusing on business outcomes over hype and ensuring that emerging technologies like AI are deployed responsibly. CIOs are being tasked with identifying use cases, driving cost savings, and ensuring governance and ethics are built in from the outset.
- CIOs are now increasingly involved in workforce strategy, particularly in relation to the growing use of AI. Many are now playing a key role in overseeing the performance and governance of AI agents supplementing a human workforce, with implications for productivity, skills development, and ethical standards across the business.
- CIOs themselves are aware of this shift:
37% of CIOs say that technology expertise is now less important than business strategy and stakeholder management for the role of the CIO.
- CIOs themselves are aware of this shift:
Commenting on the findings, Mike Anderson, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Netskope, said:
"The CIO role is evolving faster than many organizations are prepared for. CIOs are expanding their remit to own operations and business functions in a way that was not the case even a few years ago. Yet many don’t feel fully aligned with their CEOs or empowered to make long-term decisions.
“What’s clear is that technical expertise is no longer enough for CIOs. They need to navigate complex stakeholder relationships, communicate in the language of business outcomes, and act as a nuanced strategic partner at the top of the organization.
“We undertook this research not simply to identify the problems, but to provide a genuine resource to help make the interactions between CIOs and their CEO more effective and productive. Including recommendations from experienced and successful CIOs and business leaders, we hope it will help CIOs navigate the conversations that are becoming ever more crucial in the era of AI.”
Crucial Conversations: How to Achieve CIO-CEO Alignment in the Era of AI, is based on interviews with global CEOs, quantitative research with over 200 CIOs in the US and UK, and expert validation and contribution from CIOs, CEOs, COOs, and business strategy experts. The report identifies six core discussion areas — cost, risk, innovation, people, measurement, and the IT estate — where more aligned conversations can support better strategic outcomes.
Download the full Crucial Conversations report here.
About Netskope
Netskope (NASDAQ: NTSK), a leader in modern security and networking for the cloud and AI era, addresses the needs of both security and networking teams by providing optimized access and real-time, context-based security for people, devices, and data anywhere they go. Thousands of customers, including more than 30 of the Fortune 100, trust the Netskope One platform, its Zero Trust Engine, and its powerful NewEdge network to reduce risk and gain full visibility and control over cloud, AI, SaaS, web, and private applications—providing security and accelerating performance without trade-offs.
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FAQ
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