Governing Body Spotlight

Scott Civzelis is the CIO of DS Smith plc, the FTSE 100's leading global sustainable packaging business. An internationally experienced technology & business change leader, with a wealth of experience gained across a career spanning Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Retail, Technology, and Utilities sectors. 

Scott combines strategic technology insight with a passion and ability to deliver business winning I&T strategies, and value driving business change. With over 25 years of technology strategy experience within both agile SME and large international organisations. Scott has achieved a proven track record of driving digitally enabled business transformation, realised through the unification of innovative technology and an engaged approach to business change.

Scott has a young family who love fun and keeping active, with no time for sitting still. A keen but now veteran Rugby player, who has turned his energy towards community rugby coaching, being passionate about providing children opportunities to develop as individuals through the environment of team sport.

Learn more about the UK & Ireland CIO community here.
 

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

I have always channeled my energy into developing a structured career pathway. Every progression and role within my pathway has always built upon my earning, been challenging, carried complexity, been enjoyable, and most importantly has always been within organisations who have made a positive impact. I developed through a career path with tenures in both agile startup SME, and Global plc environments, including DS Smith, DHL, Molson Coors, and Wolseley plc.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

Lead with clear values: Honesty, Trusted, Caring, Challenging, and Ambition, and Lead with a focus on developing your organisation  and people.
 

What is the greatest challenge your particular C-level role is facing today, and how are you addressing it?

Keeping pace with evolving threats of cyber and risk whilst balancing and delivering the enormous opportunity to drive top and bottom line value with emerging technology capabilities.  This is both the biggest conundrum and also the reason I love my role.
 

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

Develop a deep understanding of your business. Develop a deep understanding of your customer. Develop deep and trusted relationships within your organisation and teams, and use your unique experience to enrich, influence, and develop the strategy of your company.
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

I always measure my leadership success with three simple tests:

1. Am I staying true to my values
2. Am I creating a legacy and evolution of my organisation
3. Am I driving an ambition which both challenges and adds to our company strategy
    

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

Learning and solving common challenges, whilst collaborating on developing talent within our industry. Developing the next generation of leadership talent is an industry challenge which only cross-industry collaboration can truly answer.
 

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.