Are CIOs Becoming the New Leaders of C-Suite Strategy?

Technology is driving rapid change at enterprise level, quickly positioning Chief Information Officers (CIOs) as leaders driving revenue, and not just tech developments, according to Deloitte.

Deloitte's CIO Programme, which provides insights to tech leaders, has unveiled the second wave of findings from its Tech Exec Survey. It shows how the tech C-suite is redefining enterprise value and reporting lines.

Released on 13 November, the survey shows that 80% of tech leaders surveyed say their roles and responsibilities have greatly expanded to meet business objectives.

The first wave, released in June 2025, revealed that half of surveyed technology leaders say they have four or more tech C-suite leaders at their organisation today and nearly seven in 10 tech leaders say they’ll increase their tech function’s headcount in direct response to Gen AI.

These results signal technology’s continuing broad and expanding influence across businesses.

Deloitte’s Technology, AI and Data Strategy Practice Leader, Lou DiLorenzo Jr. says: “This moment marks the realisation of what we’ve long anticipated: the expanded strategic role of CIOs and the broader tech C-suite.”

The link between the CIO and CEO

Reporting lines in companies are changing as tech is becoming an increasingly prevalent growth engine, with 65% of CIOs reporting directly to the CEO, according to Deloitte.

This is an increase from 41% a decade ago, driven by the fact that 66% of CIOs in the recent survey who report directly to the Chief Exec say it better positions them to help drive business strategy and results.

Anjali Shaikh, Deloitte’s Managing Director and US Tech C-Suite Programmes Leader, says: “The shift in reporting lines is more than a structural change, it’s a statement of trust.

“Increasingly, CEOs are as invested in the tech agenda as CIOs themselves, a marked shift from the past when technology was seen as a support function rather than a source of competitive advantage.”

CIOs also show to be the most ambitious tech leadership role, with over two-thirds saying they’d like to pursue a CEO role in the future.

Work colleagues who believe CIOs could make the top spot say this rise is due to:

• Proven leadership and management skills - 39%
• Ability to drive innovation and growth - 37%
• Track record of building high-performing teams - 37%

Comparing that to other tech leadership roles: only 41% of Chief Technology Officers, 42% of CDAOs and 55% of Chief Information Security Officers see it as a future aspiration.

Anjali added that “the CEO-CIO partnership is helping shape how organisations grow, innovate and lead”.

Tech as a growth engine

When asked in the survey how execs perceive the tech function, respondents were almost evenly split, with 52% saying their tech department is viewed as a revenue generator and 48% saying they’re primarily considered a service centre.

Deloitte breaks down this information into different sized companies, showing that two-thirds of execs at large firms view tech as a revenue driver compared to less than half at those that are mid-sized.

Tech being seen as a growth engine instead of a service centre causes leaders to change their priorities, according to Deloitte. This happens in areas including:

• Being more focused on growth and prioritising expansion in new markets
• Leading in implementing Gen AI across the organisation
• CIOs are more likely to report to CEOs and this helps them deliver business outcomes in tech

Discussing the findings, Lou added: “Today’s technology leaders aren’t just influencing revenue and strategy; they’re redefining leadership itself. To be seen as true strategists, CIOs and CTOs should move beyond managing systems.

“They are increasingly becoming architects of business advantage, integrating talent, data and technology to help drive transformation, fuel sustainable growth and reimagine how the enterprise competes and endures.”