New & Notable

Calgary CIOs share strategies for innovation

Details: Monday, 03 July 2017 21:53

While the majority of CIOs polled in various studies agree that “innovation” is high on their companies’ priority list, their definition of “innovation” is highly subjective and possibly only observable through its impact and delivered value (you’ll know it when you see it?).

The majority of people interested in innovation have a sense of what it is and are more concerned about how to go about encouraging innovation, developing a sustainable approach to it, and realizing business value.

Making the case: CIOs reveal tactics for pitching the C-suite

Details: Friday, 26 May 2017 22:07

Toronto – May 26, 2017 – When it comes to making a compelling business case in the C-suite that supports IT’s vision for the organization, CIOs are often caught between a rock and a hard place. The rock is the C-suite’s sometimes adamantine resistance to technology-driven innovation and change, and the hard place is IT’s position outside the mainstream of the business. To be successful at this important task, CIOs must be on their game, creating the best possible argument for their case, finding allies within the business, and laying the groundwork for success within the C-suite itself.

Maria Aiello of PwC Joins The IT Media Group’s Advisory Board

Details: Monday, 09 January 2017 19:10

Toronto – Jan 9, 2017 – We’re pleased to announce the most recent addition to our Advisory Board, Maria Aiello, Managing Director, Real Estate Technology Advisory practice at PwC.

Maria has been a great supporter to The IT Media Group and a key contributor at our CIO roundtables.

Prior to joining PwC, Maria held CIO positions at Morguard Corporation and Regal Lifestyle Communities (acquired by Revera in 2015).

2017 Event Listing Now Available

Details: Wednesday, 04 January 2017 22:17

Our topic line-up for 2017 is now available. Topics are developed with the guidance of the CIO community and represent the top-of-mind issues for Canadian IT executives. Our popular CIO roundtables are available for single sponsorship on a first come first served basis. Specific dates are established with sponsors and will be published once they are confirmed.

These events are by invitation only. A short request form is available on the listings page for IT executives who wish to be included in our VIP invitation list.

CIOs share insights around gearing up for digital transformation

Details: Monday, 19 December 2016 22:06

Data and applications are fundamentally changing business models and operational processes, while creating new customer experiences. As pivotal players in the critically important digital transformation of our businesses, CIOs must find ways to harness innovation and help their organizations find quicker and better ways to create, sell and deliver their products and services.

With this goal in mind, 17 IT executives from the Toronto area gathered on December 9 for another of The IT Media’s Group’s highly regarded Master Series Roundtables, this one entitled “CIO Essentials to Digital Transformation”. This very interactive discussion was moderated by Jeff Ishii, ITMG’s Chief Technologist, and sponsored by Salesforce, represented at the table by Chris Makkreel, Head of Solution Engineering.

Digital Transformation & Data Security National Briefing

Details: Thursday, 24 November 2016 23:44

Toronto – November 24, 2016 – More than a dozen private and public sector organizations attended a highly engaging security briefing while lunching on contemporary Canadian cuisine at Canoe restaurant. The event was sponsored by Hitachi Data Systems and Above Security to provide knowledge sharing and continuous education related to data protection and digital transformation.

Toronto was the sixth of eight stops in the cross-country briefing tour. Paul Lewis, Chief Technology Officer of Hitachi Canada, provided a roadmap of the customer journey to digital transformation, including strategies that organizations need to be aware of in order to transform successfully. Also presenting was Steve Croucher, Country Manager of Above Security. Steve described the value of a company’s data and the frameworks to consider when securing it.

John Comacchio, SVP and CIO of Teknion Joins The IT Media Group’s Advisory Board

Details: Monday, 14 November 2016 17:15

Toronto – Nov 14, 2016 – We are pleased to announce the latest addition to our Advisory Board, John Comacchio , Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Teknion Corporation.

As SVP and CIO, John is responsible for providing enterprise-wide technology vision, leadership and management, and for the planning, development and implementation of information technology initiatives. He is a member of the Leadership Team and the Executive Committee at Teknion.

Prior to joining Teknion Corporation, John held senior leadership positions at KPMG Consulting Inc., US Interactive and Nissan Canada Inc.

John is a member of the IDC CIO Research Review Board, Masergy Customer Advisory Board, OKTA CIO Advisory Board, and the Institute of Corporate Directors.

John holds a Master of Business Administration, granted by the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario.

Toronto IT Execs Put IoT Under the Microscope

Details: Monday, 26 September 2016 21:23

There’s a lot of talk about the Internet of Things (IoT) these days, but how are companies preparing for it, what are the IoT issues that concern them, and where are they when it comes to putting IoT data to work for the organization? These and several other important questions were discussed at the CIO Master Series Roundtable, IoT in a Customer-centric World, held September 22, 2016 in Toronto, and attended by 16 IT executives from a variety of public- and private-sector organizations in the Greater Toronto Area.

The private session was organized by leading Canadian IT events producer The IT Media Group and moderated by its VP Executive Programs, John Pickett. Sponsor for the roundtable was Salesforce, represented at the table by Chris Makkreel, Head of Solution Engineering.

The conversation delved into such areas as: security concerns related to IoT due to its Internet origins, the unregulated and often unknown intelligence built into many of these devices, and the lack of good security practices on the part of employees, especially millennials; the importance of vendors in moving towards a more mature IoT environment; the information-management challenges posed by the enormous amounts of data generated by IoT devices; and the need for organizations to be front and centre on IoT technologies if they are to remain competitive.