Governing Body Spotlight

Dr. Milan Kumar is a globally renowned Chief Information & Digital Officer (CIO/CDO). He is a Global Technology & Digital Leader, TEDx Speaker, International Author, Educator and Startups Mentor as well as a member of the Forbes Technology Council. He is the winner of several prestigious awards “Global Digital CIO”, “Digital Edge50”,” SWISS TOP CIO,” Economics Times “CIO Excellence Award” among others. He’s the author of CIO Series - “Smart Factory” and “Immersive and Augmented Analytics”. 

Dr. Kumar is the current Chief Information Officer of ZF Commercial Vehicles (CVS) at ZF Group in Switzerland. He has held several Senior Global IT leadership positions within the VOLKSWAGEN Group, including serving as Director and Board Member of VOLKSWAGEN IT Services IPL.  

Dr. Kumar has extensive experience with FORTUNE 500 companies like BMW Group, General Motors, and British Airways. He is a PhD holder in Artificial Intelligence and has completed the Harvard Business School's Driving Growth Through Innovation executive program. 

Learn more about the Benelux CIO community here.
 

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

I started my career in Microsoft technologies and later transformed into business consulting with SAP. This also brought me closer to the day-to-day business challenges. Later on, I got extensive experience with FORTUNE 500 companies like VOLKSWAGEN Group, BMW Group, General Motors, and British Airways.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

For me, accountability is the key. We can create business differentiation with passion and execution.
 

What is the greatest challenge CIOs face today, and how are you addressing it?

The role of a Chief Information Officer (CIO) is evolving rapidly, especially with the ongoing disruptions in technology and business landscapes. Here are a few key trends and directions where the CIO role might be heading in the next 1-2 years:

• Strategic Leadership: CIOs will increasingly be seen as strategic leaders, not just technology managers. They will play a crucial role in shaping business strategy and driving digital transformation initiatives. 
• Business Value: We need to focus on business value creation enabled with technology.
• Customer Centricity: We need to keep the end customer in mind in every transformation we are embarking into.
• Cybersecurity Focus: With the rise in cyber threats, CIOs will need to prioritize cybersecurity more than ever. This includes implementing robust security measures and fostering a culture of security awareness within the organization. 
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Leveraging data analytics to drive business decisions will be a major focus. CIOs will need to ensure their organizations can harness the power of big data and AI to gain insights and improve operations. 
• Cloud and Hybrid IT Environments: The shift to cloud computing and hybrid IT environments will continue. CIOs will need to manage these transitions effectively, ensuring scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. 
• Employee Experience: Enhancing the digital employee experience will be critical. This includes providing the right tools and technologies to enable remote work, collaboration, and productivity. 
• Sustainability and ESG: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are becoming more important. CIOs will need to integrate sustainable practices into their IT strategies and support their organizations’ ESG goals. 
• Innovation and Agility: Embracing innovation and fostering an agile mindset will be essential. CIOs will need to create environments where experimentation and rapid iteration are encouraged.
   

What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CIO?

1. Understand the Business: Gain a deep understanding of the company's business model, goals, and challenges. This will help you align IT and data strategies with business objectives. 
2. Build Strong Relationships: Establish strong relationships with key stakeholders across the organization. Effective communication and collaboration with other executives, department heads, and team members are crucial. 
3. Stay Current with Technology: Keep up to date with the latest technology trends and innovations. This will help you make informed decisions and identify opportunities for leveraging new technologies. 
4. Focus on Cybersecurity: Prioritize cybersecurity from the start. Implement robust security measures and foster a culture of security awareness to protect your organization’s data and systems. 
5. Embrace Data-Driven Decision Making: Promote the use of data analytics to drive business decisions. Ensure that your organization has the tools and capabilities to harness the power of data. 
6. Develop a Clear Vision: Create a clear vision and strategy for IT and data management. Communicate this vision effectively to your team and stakeholders to ensure alignment and buy-in. 
7. Foster Innovation and Agility: Encourage a culture of innovation and agility within your team. Be open to experimentation and quick iterations to adapt to changing business needs. 
8. Invest in Your Team: Build a strong, skilled team and invest in their development. Provide opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth. 
9. Focus on Customer Experience: Ensure that your IT and data initiatives enhance the customer experience. This can be a key differentiator for your organization. 
10. Balance Short-Term and Long-Term Goals: While it’s important to address immediate needs, also focus on long-term strategic goals. Balance quick wins with sustainable, long-term initiatives.
     

What is the value of being a member of the Evanta community?

As it’s a peer-to-peer network, we learn from real-life scenarios in an open environment.
 

Evanta Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
 

by CIOs, for CIOs
 

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