The Day the IT World Stood Still
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- Written by Octavian Tanase
Lessons from CrowdStrike on Safeguarding Your Data with Compliance, Continuity and Disaster Recovery Strategies.
How Can a CIO Leverage Students for Innovation?
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- Written by Peter Carr
Globalisation is concentrating the minds of leaders of organisations on innovation. For most, there is a need to improve or introduce products and processes more quickly in response to increased competition. Whether the desired innovation is disruptive or sustaining the challenge is usually to make it happen – to turn good ideas into improvements in organisational performance.
More tales from customer service hell
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- Written by Dave Carey
If you are a CIO, there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with Bob Evans, SVP Communications for Oracle Corp. If you don’t know him, you may want to put him on your radar. He’s one of the best bloggers on CIO issues out there.
In a Forbes BrandVoice blog entitled “The Top 10 Strategic Issues for CIOs for 2014”, Evans says that the number one issue for CIOs in 2014 is driving customer-centric innovation throughout the business.
“In today’s global consumer-driven economy,” he asserts, “the only survivors will be those companies that are able to put the customer at the center of all their thinking and processes: product design, marketing, distribution, sales experience, user experience, post-sales support and service, and community engagement.”
If you’re looking for some low-hanging fruit in the customer-satisfaction department, allow me to make a couple of suggestions, based on recent personal experience…
CIOs stand on shifting corporate sands
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- Written by Dave Carey
It’s growing increasingly apparent that the times they are a’changing for IT executives, perhaps more so now than ever in the history of enterprise IT.
That home truth came through loud and clear at The IT Media Group’s two recent CIO Master Series roundtables – one in Toronto and one in Calgary – both sponsored by IBM Canada. The events were held in early March, 2014.
In the Calgary session, where a 13-member roundtable delved into the issue of "Future-Proofing the IT Organization", several IT executives agreed that the business has already largely taken over traditional IT responsibilities such as project management, budget and delivery, sometimes cutting IT out of the process entirely.
CIOs – Don’t Lose Sight of Your Web Site
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- Written by Dave Carey
Like most people these days, I visit more Web sites in the space of a week than I would care to count. When it comes to the sites of mid- to large-sized organizations, I find about one in ten is really impactful and well executed. About half I would describe as acceptable to pretty good, although most in this group are lacking in imagination and verve. The remaining 40 percent suffer from a variety of ills: poor navigation, missing content, cumbersome functionality, lackluster or just plain bad graphic design – the list goes on.
Is it the job of the CIO to ensure that the company has a compelling and well-functioning Web site? To the extent that the CIO has influence over the finished product, the answer is yes. In most organizations, the CMO will hold the reins to design and content. But when it comes to building or overhauling the site, having it function properly, and tying it into backend systems, the buck stops at the CIO’s office.
CIOs – more than just efficiency experts
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- Written by Dave Carey
A lot of CIOs struggle with the fact that they are pigeon-holed by their organizations as efficiency experts whose role is primarily one of improving processes. The notion of IT being a key driver of business growth in new areas simply doesn’t exist in many companies.
For CIOs trying to make the case for an expanded role for IT in driving business growth, some good news came recently in the form of a survey from Juniper Networks, which provides some tangible evidence that when IT is enlisted to drive corporate growth, the result is stronger business performance.
Conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the survey of 474 business and IT executives from Germany, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. aimed at providing a better understanding of how the role of IT in business is changing to address the challenges and opportunities of exponential data growth and the fast-changing market needs for digital services.
Confronting the IT Complexity Problem
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- Written by Dave Carey
You could forgive today’s CIOs for thinking they’ve fallen down some confounding IT rabbit hole. But rather than crying, “Curiouser and Curiouser!”, as Alice did, they’re more likely to exclaim, “Complexer and complexer!”
When I first began focusing my career as a journalist on the world of the IT executive back in the early 1990s, I remember thinking how dauntingly complex the IT environment was that they had to manage. But with more and more sophisticated enterprise IT solutions coming onto the market, I reasoned that things would get better over time. Ah, the naivety!
5 survival tactics for CIOs
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- Written by John Pickett
There’s a lot going on in the CIO’s world. Change is not a new phenomenon for CIOs, but it does seem that there are some fundamental shifts happening that are changing the relationship between information technology and its users, between information technology and the IT department, and changing the role and influence of IT within the business.
Driving these changes are both technology developments and business realities, including cloud computing and the accessibility of IT capabilities outside of the IT department; mobile computing and social media -- both contributing to the erosion of the dividing line between enterprise and public or personal information resources; and, the increasing pressure to lower costs while streamlining business processes and improving responsiveness.
CIOs doing less with less
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- Written by Nasheen Liu
Let’s face it; the “doing more with less” mantra no longer works for IT. With cost cutting being one of the primary mandates of CIOs, something has to give. Most know that, but few have a productive solution.
I had lunch recently with a CIO who heads up global IT at one of the major banks. He mentioned that he has to find $25 millions in cost savings this year. He needs help in figuring out where that money is going to come from, while not disrupting the quality of services. Ha! We all want to have the best of both worlds; but can we?
CIO roundtable: ‘Winning Tactics for Hard Times’
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- Written by Dave Carey
It was nice to be back in my comfort zone in November, helping host The IT Media Group’s first CIO Roundtable in Toronto. The theme ‘Winning Tactics for Hard Times’ provided plenty of issues for the nine participating CIOs and CTOs to explore. And the format – more lightly structured than the roundtables I’ve done in the past – proved to be an excellent one, giving participants ample rein to take the conversation deeper into areas of specific interest. Panelists gave a big thumbs up to the event, so the stage is set for us to do many more in the new year.
Past Attendees
ADP - VP Architecture & Infrastructure
AESO - VP, Information Technology
Agnico Eagle Mines - VP, IT
Agrium - Global Mgr., IT Security
Agrium - Senior Director IT Shared Services
Aimia - SVP & Global CIO
Ainsworth Engineered - Director IT
Air Canada Vacations - Director IT
Alberta Energy Regulator - Director, Office of the CIO
Anthem Properties - VP IS
AON Risk Solutions Canada - Head of IT
Avison Young - VP Global Enterprise Architecture & Integration
Aviva Canada - VP, Architecture & Strategy
Bank of America Merrill Lynch - CTO
BC Ferry Services - VP & CIO
Bell Business Markets - Director, Strategy & Planning
Bell Canada - National Director, Digital Transformation
Bellatrix Exploration - Director, Information Technology
Bentall Kennedy - VP IT
BFL CANADA - CIO
BFL CANADA - Director, Cybersecurity & IT Risk Management
Black Press - CTO
BlackBerry - VP Corporate IT
BMO Financial Group - Director, Technology & Operations Transformation
BMO Financial Group - Head of Services Delivery
Bombardier Aerospace - CISO
Bonavista Petroleum - Head of IT
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP - Global CIO
Bow Valley College - Director, IT Services
Bridgewater Bank - Head of IT
BuildDirect - VP IT
Bulk Barn - Head, IT
Burnco - CIO
Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec - VP, IT Planning, Architecture, Governance, Operations
Calfrac Well Services - Head of IT
Canada Goose - CTO
Canada Live - VP of Technology
Canada Mortgage and Housing - VP, Information & Technology
Canada Protection Plan - Head of IT
Canadian Depository for Securities - CIO
Canadian Direct Insurance - CTO
Canadian Payments Association - VP & CIO
Canucks Sports - Head of IT
Capgemini - Service Delivery Director
CAPREIT - CIO
Cardel Homes - VP MIS
Cargojet - CIO
CBI Health Group - CIO
CCS Corp. - VP IT
CDSPI - Board Director
Centerra Gold - Director IT & Comm
CI Global Asset Management - VP of Enterprise Infrastructure $amp; Operations
CIBC - Senior Director, Infrastructure Planning & Engineering
CIBC - SVP & CIO, Retail and Business Banking Technology
CIBC Mellon - AVP, Enterprise Architecture
CIBC Mellon - SVP & CIO
Cineplex Entertainment - CTO
City of Brampton - Senior Manager, IT Architecture & Planning
City of Richmond Hill - CIO
City of Toronto - Director of Strategic Planning & Architecture
CN Rail Service - Chief Information Security Officer
Coast Capital Savings - VP Technology
Colliers - Head of Technology & Data
Concordia University - AVP & CIO
Crescent Point Energy - Head of IT
Dairy Farmers of Ontario - Head of IT and Administration
Dale Parizeau Morris Mackenzie - VP, IT
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP - Director, Information Technology
DealerTrack Canada - Director, Technology
Defence Construction Canada - Corporate Manager, IT
Deloitte - Director, Risk Advisory
Dentons - Canada CIO
Devon Energy - Director, Integrated Business Services
Direct Cash - VP IT & Security
Dynamic Tire Corp - CIO
D+H Partnership - VP, Head of Canadian Mortgage Technology
eHealth - EVP, Technology
eHealth Ontario - VP, IT Systems & Services
Encana - Director, InfoSec
Enbridge Inc. - VP, Technology and Information Services
Enerflex - CIO
Enerplus - VP. IS
ENMAX - VP, IT & PMO
Equitable Bank - CIO
Equitable Bank - CISO
Equity Financial Trust - VP, IT
Essential Energy Services - Director, IT
Expedia Cruise Ship Centers - VP IS
FGL Sports - VP, Information Technology
Finastra - SVP, Head Technology Managed Services
Fix Auto Canada - COO & SVP
Flightnetwork.com - CIO
Freedom Mobile - Head, Customer Applications, Experience, & Strategy
FT Services - CIO
FundServ - CIO
Genus Capital Management - CTO
Genworth Financial Inc. - VP IT
Geotab - Board Member
Golder Associates - CTO
Gran Tierra Energy - Director IT
Grant Thornton LLP - CIO
Grand River Hospital - Director, Data Governance & Analytics
Greenwin Inc - VP, Information Technology
Groupe Dynamite - Director, IT
GSK Canada - IT Director
GTAA - Acting CIO
H&R Block Canada - VP IT
Haventree Bank - VP, Technology
Hewitt Equipment Ltd. - VP & CIO
Hitachi Vantara - GVP & Global CTO
Home Trust Company - CIO
Home Trust Company - CTO
Home Trust Company - VP & CISO
Horizon North Logistics - CIO
HSB Canada - VP IT
IBM Canada - Associate Partner, Payments Industry
Indigo Books and Music - CIO
Interac Corp - Director, Platform Engineering
ivari - SVP & CIO
JP Morgan Chase Canada - Executive Director, Information Risk Management
Keyera Energy - Director, Information Technology
KFC Canada - CTO
KnowledgeOne - CIO
LaFarge Canada - Director, IT
Landmark Cinemas Canada - VP, IT
LAWPRO - CIO
LCBO - Director, Applications Systems
LCBO - SVP & CIO
Leisureworld Senior Care Corp - VP IS
Lifeguard Digital Health - Chief Security & Informatics Officer
Loblaw Companies Ltd - Senior Director, Customer Engagement Technology
London Drugs - GM IT
Loto-Quebec - Corporate Director, InfoSec
Magna International Inc - VP & Global Leader, IT (CIO)
Manulife - Global Head of Private Markets & Real Estate Technology
March Networks - VP Professional Services & CIO
MaRS Discovery District - Managing Director, Fintech and Commerce
McCain Foods Limited - Manager InfoSec
McInnis Cement - Director of Information Technology
Medical Pharmacies Group - VP, Information Technology
MEG Energy - Manager, Information Technology Solutions & Services
Metrolinx - EVP & CIO
Minto Group - VP IT
MMM Group - CIO
Montreal Police Service - CIO
Morguard Investments - CIO
Moulding & Millwork - CIO
MullenLowe Group - Global CIO
National Bank of Canada - Information Security Officer
National Capital Commission - Chief, IT infrastructure & Support Services
NHL Players' Association - Head, Security & Technology
Northbridge Financial Corp - CIO
OEC Group Canada - Vice President, Information Technology and Client solutions
ODAIA - CEO
Oildex - VP, Architecture & Infrastructure
OPTrust - AVP, Enterprise Data Services
Olympia Financial Group - CIO
OMERS - EVP, Data & Technology
OMERS - SVP IT
OMERS - SVP, Data & Advanced Analytics
Ontario Pension Board - CTO
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan - SVP, Product & Delivery
Ontario Trillium Foundation - CIO
Osum Oil Sands Corp - Manager, IS
Ottawa Police Service - CIO
Pacific Western Transportation - CIO
Packers Plus - Global IT Director
Pason Systems - Manager, Digital Communications & Corporate IT
Patient News - CTO
Peel District School Board - CIO
Pengrowth Corp - Director IS
Penn West Exploration - Snr. Manager, IT Operations
Peterson Investment Group - Head of IT
PFB Corp. - CIO
Pizza Pizza - CIO & VP, IT
Precision Drilling - VP, IT
Precision Drilling - Director, IT Infrastructure & Security
PSP Investments - Snr. Director, Internal Audit & Business Infosec
Public Works and Government Services Canada - Director, IT Security Directorate
PwC - Managing Director, Real Estate Technology Advisory
Pythian - CTO
Qantas - Global CIO
Queen's University - Director, Information Technology
RBC Royal Bank - Head of Application Security, Data Protection & Security Consulting
RBC Royal Bank - VP, Technology Platforms & Risk Management
RBC Royal Bank - Global Cybersecurity VP
Regal Lifestyle Communities - CIO
Revera Inc. - CIO
Revera Inc. - Security Architect
Rheem Manufacturing - CISO & Enterprise Architect
Ricoh Canada - VP,IT
RioCan Property Services - VP IT
Roche - Head of IT Americas – Operations
Rogers Communications - SVP, Customer Experience IT
ROM - CIO
Russel Metals - VP,IS
Salvation Army Canada - Board Director
SCI Group - CIO
Scotiabank - Head, Systems Architecture & Platform Modernization
Scotiabank - VP - International Systems Technology
Scotiabank - Head, System Architecture & Platform Modernization
Scotiabank - Global Head, GBM Compliance & Transformation
Sears Canada - Divisional VP, Information Technology Services
Secure Energy Services - GM, IT
Shaw - Head, Customer Applications, Experience, & Strategy
Shaw Communications - VP, Technology Operations
Shaw Communications - Director, Risk Management
SMART Technologies - Director, IS Corporate Services
Smartcentres - Director IS, IT
SmartOne Solutions - President & CIO
Societe de Transport de Montreal - Division Head - Security and Compliance
Street Capital Financial - CIO
Sun Life Financial - AVP, Data & Business Intelligence Services
Sun Life Financial - VP Application Ops & Services
Sunco Communication - COO
Suncor Energy Inc. - Director, Application Portfolio Optimization, I&PM, Business Services
Symcor - CTO, VP Technology Services
Talisman Energy - SVP IT & Business Services
TD Bank - Enterprise Architect
Teknion - SVP, CIO
TELUS - Chief Security Architect
Tervita Corporation - VP, Information Technology
The Hudsons Bay Company - VP Technology
The Hudson's Bay Company - SVP & CIO
The Source - VP, Information Technology
TMX Group - CISO & Global Head of Infrastructure Services
Toromont Industries - VP & CIO
Toronto District School Board - Chief Technology Officer
Toronto Hospital for Sick Children - Director of Technology
Toronto Parking Authority - CIO
Toronto Police Services - CISO
Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) - Chief Enterprise Architect
Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) - CIO
Toyota Canada - National Manager, IS
Transamerica Life Canada - CIO
Trican Well Services Ltd. - Director, Business Information Systems
Tridel Corporation - CIO
Trillium Health Partners - IT Director, Applications & Clinical Informatics
UFA Cooperative - VP & CIO
University of Calgary - Executive Director, Development Services
University of Ottawa - CIO
University of Ottawa - Senior Director IT Services & Infrastructure
University of Toronto - Director, Centre for Management & Technology
University of Waterloo - Director, Technology Entrepreneurship
Valencia Risk - Managing Director
Vancity - VP Technology & Solutions
Viterra - Director Enterprise Technology
Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company - Director of Innovation Outpost
World Health - Director IT
Wolseley Canada - CIO & COO
WSIB - Board Director
Yellow Pages Group - Director - Enterprise Data Management
York Region District School Board - CIO
York University - Board Director
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