ibm-重新布线高管：通往 2030 年的快车道 Global C-suite Series 2026 CEO Study Rewiring the C-suite The fast track to 2030

IBMInstituteforBusinessValue

GlobalC-suiteSeries

2026CEOStudy

RewiringtheC-suite

Thefasttrackto2030

Aboutthestudy

Thisstudyisthe15thIBMInstituteforBusinessValue

(IBMIBV)CEOStudy.Forthe2026CEOStudy,theIBMIBV,

incooperationwithOxfordEconomics,surveyed2,000CEOsfrom33geographiesand21industriesbetweenFebruary

andApril2026.Inadditiontosurveyresponses,insightsweredrawnfromnumerousclientconversations,includingaseriesofCEOinterviewsconductedbetweenOctober2025and

April2026.Theseconversationsfocusedonhowleadersarepreparingtheirorganizationstothriveinthefuture,touchingontopicsincludingstrategyandleadership,businessmodels,technology,talentandculture,governance,regulation,

industrydisruption,partnersandecosystems,andtheuniqueroleofCEOs.

1

2

Contents

Foreword3

Introduction4

Play#1

RethinktheC-suiteforspeedandclarity14

Play#2

CreateanAI-agentflywheel20

Play#3

CustomizeyourAImix,notjustyourAImodels26

Play#4

Orchestrateintelligence—humanandartificial32

Play#5

Expectunpredictablefutures38

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

3

Foreword

Leadingat

thespeedofAI

GaryCohn

ViceChairman,IBM

Artificialintelligenceisnotanothercycleofchange.Itisastructuralshiftinhoworganizationsthink,decide,andcompete.

Everyerahasunderestimatedtheleaderswhomovedearly.From

industrializationtodigitization,thewinnerswerenotthosewhowaitedforcertainty,butthosewhorecognizedinflectionpointsandactedwithintent.

AIissuchamoment—onethatrewardsdecisivenessandpenalizeshesitation.

TheCEO’srolehasalwaysbeentoleadthroughdisruption.WhatAIchangesisthevelocityandconsequenceofleadership.EnterprisesthatsucceedwilloperateAI-first—notasalayeroftechnology,butasanewoperatingmodel.Decisioncycleswillcompress.Boundariesbetweenfunctionswilldissolve.Advantagewillaccruetothosewhocanlearn,adapt,andexecutefasterthantheircompetitors.

AI’sfirstdividendisproductivity—freeingtime,talent,andcapitalonce

consumedbyfriction.Butproductivityalonedoesnotcreateadvantage.

Therealdifferentiatorishowleadersredeploythatcapacity.GrowthwillfavorCEOswhoreinvestaggressively,reimaginerolesandworkflows,andchannelAI-driveninsighttowardnewproducts,newmarkets,andnew

sourcesofvalue.

Thisiswhereleadershipbecomescatalytic.CEOsarenolongerjuststewardsofperformance;theyarearchitectsofintelligence.AsAIexpandswhat

organizationscanseeandknow,leadersmustdecidewhatmatters,aligntheenterprisearoundit,andmovewithspeedandcoherence.Strategybecomescontinuous.Executionbecomesinseparablefrominsight.

Thisisnotreinventionforitsownsake.Itisevolutionwithpurpose.AIdoes

notreplacesoundleadership—itraisesthestandard.Theshiftisfrom

managingactivitytoengineeringoutcomes;fromprotectinglegacyadvantagetobuildingthenextone.OrganizationsthatembracethismindsetearlywillnotjustadoptAI—theywillcompounditsimpactovertime.

Historyrewardsleaderswhorecognizewhentheenvironmenthaschangedandrespondwithfocus,discipline,andintent.AIisnotadistantpromise.

Itishere,itismovingfast,anditisredefiningwhateffectiveleadershiplookslike.Thefuturewillbelongtothosepreparedtoleadatitsspeed.

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

4

Introduction

AIisreshapingtheC-suite

Today,69%ofCEOssayAIisalreadychangingthe

aspectsoftheirbusinesstheyconsidercore.By2030,CEOagendaswillreflectthesenewpriorities,witha

sharperfocusonspeed,intelligence,andreinvention.

AIagentsmightleadmorningstand-ups,reportingonovernightmarketshiftsandsuggestingstrategicpivots.Afternoonsmayincludeinnovationlabsas

routineasbudgetreviewsoncewere.TheC-suitecouldfocuslesson

AI-poweredproductivitygainsandmoreonbusinessmodeltransformation,ledbyexecutiveswhooperateasaunitedfront,notinsiloedfunctions.

That’swhy2026istheyearCEOsmustrewiretheC-suite—redesigning

howdecisionsaremade,howauthorityisdistributed,andhowAIreshapesinfluence—whilepreservingthedecisivenessandclarityenterprisesneedtomovefast.Gettingtheretakesproactiveleadership.CEOswillneedtoworkwiththeirC-suiteleaderstobuildexecutionmechanisms,incentives,and

operatingmodelsallfocusedondrivingtheseoutcomes.

That’stheclearmessageofnewproprietarydatagatheredbytheIBM

InstituteforBusinessValue(IBMIBV).OurresearchshowsthatCEOswhohavethegreatestsuccesswithAIareactivelyrethinkingcross-functionalcollaborationandembeddingAIacrossend-to-endworkflows.They’re

buildingorganizationsdesignedtothriveinuncertainty,whereproductivedebatesharpensstrategyandsmartrisk-takingisrewarded.

“TryingtotakeAItoolsandsqueezethem

intotheexistingorganizationisextremely

likelytobethewrongapproach.”

JacekOlczak

GroupCEO,PhilipMorrisInternational(PMI),Switzerland

5

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

The2026CEOStudy’sdata,gatheredinpartnershipwithOxfordEconomics,

buildsonourstudy,Theenterprisein2030,whichidentifiesfivepredictionsforthefutureoftheorganization(see“AplaybookforAI-firstsuccess”onpage7).1Thisstudy’sanalysis,informedbyour2030predictions,revealsfiveplaysthatCEOsmustmaketoleadinanAI-firstlandscape(see“Researchmethodology”

onpage44).

1RethinktheC-suiteforspeedandclarity.

2CreateanAI-agentflywheel.

3CustomizeyourAImix,notjustyourAImodels.

4Orchestrateintelligence—humanandartificial.

5Expectunpredictablefutures.

“Ourfoundation—creativity,authenticity,emotionalconnection—doesnotchange.AI’sroleistostrengthenandenablehowwe

deliveronthatfoundation:helpingteamsgenerateideas,refinethem,andbringthemtolifemoreeffectively.”

PatriceLouvet

PresidentandCEO,RalphLaurenCorporation,US

6

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

ThefollowingsectionsoutlinehoweachofthesemovesenablesCEOsto

executemoresuccessfullyonstrategy,delivermoreconsistentlyonbusinesscases,andscaleAIenterprisewide(seeFigure1).Acrosstheboard,mindsetmattersasmuchastechnology,ifnotmore.Theresultisbetter,faster

outcomestoday—andaframeworkforsuccesstomorrow.

FIGURE1

AI-firstplaysdeliverrealreturns

AI-firstCEOs,whoagreewiththefivestatementsbelow,haveseen17%higherrevenuegrowth

TheCEOplaysThemindset

Wemustrethinkcross-functional

collaborationinourorganization

toaccelerateourpaceofbusiness.

WeareactivelyembeddingAI

acrossmultipleworkflowstooptimize

end-to-endefficiencyandeffectiveness.

WeprioritizeAIusecasesmorearoundlong-termdifferentiationthanshort-termROI.

SucceedingwithAIdependsmoreonpeople’sadoptionthanthetechnologyitself.

Wehaveateaminplace

todayassessingtheimpactofquantumonourindustry.

Rethink

theC-suite

Createan

AI-agentflywheel

CustomizeyourAImix

Orchestrateintelligence

Expect

unpredictablefutures

+17%

Revenuegrowth

comparedtoallotherorganizationsforthepastthreeyears

1

2

3

4

5

7

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

AplaybookforAI-firstsuccess

InTheenterprisein2030,IBMIBVanalysisunveiledfivepredictionsthatwilldefinethebusinesslandscapeofthefuture.2Our2026CEOStudyidentifiestheplaysCEOsmustmakenowtoturnthosepredictionsintopayoffsbytheendofthedecade.

Theprediction

Whattoexpectin2030

Theplay

WhatCEOscandotoday

Thepayoff

Sourcesofdifferentiation

1

Competitivepressurewillmakebigbets

non-negotiable.

Rethinkthe

C-suiteforspeedandclarity.

CEOswhoareremakingthe

C-suitewithanAI-firstmindset

havescaled10%moreAIinitiativesenterprisewide.

2

Today’sproductivity

gainswillfundtomorrow’stransformation.

Createan

AI-agentflywheel.

Themostfuture-focused

CEOshavescaled23%moreAIinitiativesenterprisewide.

3

ThebestAIwill

beone-of-a-kind.Yourkind.

CustomizeyourAImix,notjustyourAImodels.

CEOswhosystematically

incorporateproprietarydataandIPintocustomAImodelsandagentsexpect13%moreoftheir2030

revenuetocomefromproductsandservicesnotofferedtoday.

4

AIwon’tdoallyourthinkingforyou.

Orchestrate

intelligence—

humanandartificial.

CEOswhoactivelyredesignhow

teamsworktogetheraremorethantwiceaslikelytohavedeliveredontheirbusinessobjectives.

5

Quantumwillcause

thenextseismicshift.

Expect

unpredictablefutures.

82%ofAI-firstCEOsarealreadyactivelyengagingpartnersinoneormorequantumecosystems

toaccesscomplementarystrengths,reducerisk,

andacceleratelearning.

8

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

The2026CEOoutlook

TopCEOpriorities

What’smostimportant

2024

1Productand

serviceinnovation

2AIandtechnologymodernization

3Cybersecurityanddataprivacy

4Productivityorprofitability

5Forecast

accuracy

6Customer

experience

7Market

sharegrowth

8Talentrecruitingandretention

9Marketingand

saleseffectiveness

10Scalabilityof

servicedelivery

11Environmentalsustainability

12Supplychainperformance

13Business

modelinnovation

14Diversity

andinclusion

15Ecosystems

andpartnerships

2025

1Forecastaccuracy

2Productivityorprofitability

3Cybersecurityanddataprivacy

4Productand

serviceinnovation

5Talentrecruitingandretention

6Customer

experience

7AIandtechnologymodernization

8Environmentalsustainability

9Ecosystems

andpartnerships

10Supplychainperformance

11Scalabilityof

servicedelivery

12Marketingand

saleseffectiveness

13Diversity

andinclusion

14Market

sharegrowth

15Business

modelinnovation

Productivity

orprofitability

AIandtechnologymodernization

Customerexperience

Productand

serviceinnovation

Forecastaccuracy

Speedofexecution

Environmentalsustainability

Business

modelinnovation

Scalabilityof

servicedelivery

Supplychainperformance

Diversity

andinclusion

Talentrecruitingandretention

Marketingand

saleseffectiveness

Cybersecurity

anddataprivacy

Market

sharegrowth

Ecosystems

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

2026

andpartnerships

Note:Speedofexecutionwasaddedasanoptionin2026toassesstheimpactofAI-drivenacceleration.

9

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

The2026CEOoutlook

TopCEOchallenges

What’smostdifficult

Customerexperience

Market

sharegrowth

Ecosystems

14

15

w16

1Business

modelinnovation

2Productivityorprofitability

3Scalabilityof

servicedelivery

4Marketingand

saleseffectiveness

5Environmentalsustainability

6Diversity

andinclusion

7Forecastaccuracy

8Cybersecurityanddataprivacy

9Talentrecruitingandretention

10Supplychainperformance

11Market

sharegrowth

12AIandtechnologymodernization

13Productand

serviceinnovation

14Ecosystemsandpartnerships

15Customerexperience

1Productivityorprofitability

2Talentrecruitingandretention

3Speedofexecution

4Supplychainperformance

5Business

modelinnovation

6Scalabilityof

servicedelivery

7Forecastaccuracy

8Environmentalsustainability

9AIandtechnologymodernization

10Marketingand

saleseffectiveness

11Cybersecurity

anddataprivacy

12Diversity

andinclusion

13Productand

serviceinnovation

Supplychainperformance

Talentrecruitingandretention

Business

modelinnovation

Scalabilityof

servicedelivery

Marketingand

saleseffectiveness

Environmentalsustainability

Productivity

orprofitability

Forecastaccuracy

Productand

serviceinnovation

Diversity

andinclusion

Cybersecurity

anddataprivacy

Ecosystems

andpartnerships

AIandtechnologymodernization

Customerexperience

Market

sharegrowth

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

202420252026

andpartnerships

Note:Speedofexecutionwasaddedasanoptionin2026toassesstheimpactofAI-drivenacceleration.

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

The2026CEOoutlook

CEOprioritiesand

10

challengesbyindustry

CEOsacrossindustriesarelargelyalignedonwhat’smostimportantbuthavedivergingviewsonwhat’smostdifficult.

Consumer

Retailandconsumerproducts

ConsumerCEOsoperateinfragmentedmarketswhereconsumersincreasinglyrely

onAItoguidechoicesanddecisioncyclesarecompressed,whilelogisticsandsupplychainsremainvolatile.Thisisforcingcompaniestosensedemand,simulateoutcomes,andactinnear-real-time.Tocompeteatmarketspeed,CEOsmustincreasedecision

authorityamongcommercial,marketing,pricing,andsupplychainleaders.Inanenvironmentshapedbyagent-mediateddecisions,organizationalfrictionrisksmakingtheenterpriseinvisibleattheexactmomentbuyingdecisionsaremade.

Topchallenges

1.Customerexperience

2.Productandserviceinnovation

3.Forecastaccuracy

1.Productivityorprofitability

2.Supplychainperformance

3.Scalabilityofservicedelivery

Toppriorities

Banking

Retail,commercial,andwholesalebanking,andfinancialmarkets

Bankingfacesadigitaltrustparadox:AIanddataarenowindispensablecompetitive

enablers,evenastheymagnifyregulatory,cyber,andreputationalrisk.Cybersecurity

anddataprivacyconsistentlyrankasatopconcernasCEOsworktotransformtheir

organizations.Advantagewilldependonprecisionexecution—howwellleaderstranslateinsightintosecureanddifferentiatedexperiences,pricing,andservicesatscale.

Topchallenges

1.Productivityorprofitability

2.AIandtechnologymodernization

3.Customerexperience

1.Productivityorprofitability

2.Businessmodelinnovation

3.Cybersecurityanddataprivacy

Toppriorities

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

11

The2026CEOoutlook

Insurance

Insuranceisalong-termbusinesswherecustomerretentioniskey.Thatmakesrisk

partnershipcritical—understandingwhatcustomersworryaboutmostandmatchingthatrisktotherightcoverageorservice.Futuredifferentiationwilldependonstrikingtherightbalancebetweentailoringproductsandexperiencesandmakingcoreoperationsmore

efficientandsecure.Human-led,AI-enabledunderwritingandoperationswillalsobeessentialtoimproveproductivityandprofitability.

Toppriorities

1.Productivityorprofitability

2.Customerexperience

3.AIandtechnologymodernization

Topchallenges

1.Businessmodelinnovation

2.Forecastaccuracy

3.Cybersecurityanddataprivacy

Energyandresources

Energyandutilities,chemicals,petroleum,andmining

EnergyandresourcesCEOsarebalancingsustainabilityambitions,rigorousregulations,andcapital-intensiveoperationsonthepathtogrowth.Whileenvironmentalperformanceisarisingpriority,legacyriskmodels,longplanningcycles,andgovernancestructures

limitagilityanddiscourageexperimentation.Asvolatilityincreasesacrossmarketsand

regulation,sustainedimprovementdependsonexecution,specificallytheabilitytomakedynamictradeoffsinrealtimeusingshareddataandAI-supportedplanning.

Toppriorities

1.Productivityorprofitability

2.Environmentalsustainability

3.AIandtechnologymodernization

Topchallenges

1.Talentrecruitingandretention

2.Productivityorprofitability

3.Environmentalsustainability

Government

Federalandstate/provincial

Government’sbiggestchallengeistheabilitytoexecuteatscaleamidstconstant

disruption.Leadersbroadlyagreeonpriorities,butworkforceshortages,aging

systems,fragmentedauthority,andlimiteddatareadinesscontinuetoslowprogress.Realtransformationwilldependonexpandinginstitutionalcapacitythroughdigital

platformsandAI.Donewell,thisisnotonlyaboutefficiency.It’saboutimprovingdecision-making;strengtheningresilience;anddeliveringtrusted,mission-criticaloutcomesatspeedandscale.

Toppriorities

1.Constituentexperience

2.AIandtechnologymodernization

3.Cybersecurityanddataprivacy

Topchallenges

1.Talentrecruitingandretention

2.Cybersecurityanddataprivacy

3.AIandtechnologymodernization

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

The2026CEOoutlook

Healthcare

Payer,provider,andlifesciences

HealthcareCEOsareoperatingintightlyregulated,fragmentedsystemswheredemandforcarecontinuestooutpaceavailablestaff.Leadersarecommittedtoimprovingoutcomes

andmodernizingcare,butprogressstallswhendataisfragmented,decisionsaresiloed,andworkforceshortageslimitscale.Long-termperformancewilldependonbringing

clinicalandadministrativedatatogethersoleaderscanmakeearlier,betterdecisionsaboututilization,outcomes,andstaffing,andexpandwhatworksacrossthesystem.

Toppriorities

1.Productivityorprofitability

2.Customerexperience

3.Scalabilityofservicedelivery

Topchallenges

1.Talentrecruitingandretention

2.Productivityorprofitability

3.Scalabilityofservicedelivery

Telecommunications

TelecommunicationsCEOsoperateinconcentrated,capital-heavymarketswhere

networkinvestmentshaveoutpacedrevenueandscalealonenolongerconvertsinto

margin.Consumerchurnandrisingenterpriseclientexpectationsmakeexperiencea

toppriority.Cybersecurityalsositshighontheagendagiventelecom’sroleascritical

infrastructure.WithAIandtechnologymodernizationrankedasatoppriorityanda

topchallenge,successdependsonuntanglingoperationalsilos,advancingautonomousnetworkoperations,andshiftingbeyondconnectivitytocaptureenterpriseand

wholesalegrowth.

Toppriorities

1.Productivityorprofitability

2.Customerexperience

3.AIandtechnologymodernization

Topchallenges

1.Productivityorprofitability

2.Cybersecurityanddataprivacy

3.AIandtechnologymodernization

Manufacturing

Manufacturing,industrialproducts,autoOEMsandsuppliers,aerospaceanddefense,andelectronics

ManufacturingCEOsarepushingforinnovationanddigitalmodernizationinassetheavyenvironmentsshapedbyagingsystemsandoperationalcomplexity.Longglobalsupplychains,complexplantnetworks,andgrowingsoftwaredependenceslowdecisions,

raisecosts,andweakenresilience.Futurecompetitivenesswilldependondigitally

connectingphysicaloperationstoimproveproductionplanning,quality,andend-to-endlogisticscoordinationatscale.

Toppriorities

1.Productivityorprofitability

2.AIandtechnologymodernization

3.Productandserviceinnovation

Topchallenges

1.Speedofexecution

2.Supplychainperformance

3.Productivityorprofitability

12

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

The2026CEOoutlook

CEOexpectationsforAI

TherealityofenterpriseAIlagsCEOexpectations

PercentagesshowthatCEOswereoverlyoptimisticaboutthepaceofAIadoptionin2024,

whennearlyhalfexpectedadvancedAI(definedasgenerativeAI)toprimarilydrivegrowth

by2026.In2026,only10%sayadvancedAI(definedasagenticAI)isprimarilydrivinggrowth.

Primaryobjective2024prediction2025prediction2026result

ofAIinvestmentsfor2026for2026

0%0%7%

Notinvesting··o

13%

O33%53%

38%

Pilotingand

experimenting

Efficiency

andsavings

30%

51%

Growthandexpansion

15%10%

49%

Still,CEOsanticipaterapidprogress

PercentagesshowthatCEOsareevenmoreoptimisticabouttheresultsagenticAI

willdeliverin2030,withnearlythree-quartersexpectingitwillprimarilydrivegrowth.

Primaryobjective2025prediction2026prediction

ofAIinvestmentsfor2030for2030

0%1%

Notinvesting·

Pilotingand

experimenting

Efficiency

andsavings

7%

0%

21%

45%

Growthand

72%

expansion

55%

13

Rethink

theC-suite

Foreword

Introduction

CustomizeyourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Theprediction:Competitivepressurewillmakebigbetsnon-negotiable.

Play#1

RethinktheC-suite

forspeedandclarity.

Thepayoff:CEOswhoareremakingthe

C-suitewithanAI-firstmindsethavescaled10%moreAIinitiativesenterprisewide.

14

Orchestrateintelligence

Expectunpredictablefutures

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Expectunpredictable

futures

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

AI-firsttransformationstartsatthetop.CEOsknow

whattodo.ConsistencyiswhatsetsthebestCEOsapart.

TheCEOswhoarerewiringtheC-suitesharekeycharacteristics.They’vecreatedenvironmentswhereworkflowsorganicallyacrossfunctionsbyidentifyinganddirectingworkflowsthatneedtobetransformed.They

areactivelyrethinkingwhoshouldhaveauthorityoverwhatareaofthebusiness—thengivingthoseleaders,especiallytheirCOOsandbusinesslineleaders,thepowertochangehowworkisdone.

They’realsoprioritizingAI-firstoperationsbyappointingaChiefAIOfficer(CAIO)withrealauthoritytoorchestratetransformationenterprisewide.

Andthey’recreatingnewrolesateveryleveltotakeadvantageofAI.Theseleadershavealreadyscaled10%moreAIinitiativesenterprisewidethanallotherorganizations—andthey’requicklybuildingthefoundationneededtoextendtheirlead.

“Ifwekeepoptimizingforyesterday,weloseour

abilitytoexecutetomorrow.Thechallengeisto

preservecontinuitywhereitisnecessary,while

simultaneouslycreatingspacetoadoptnewwaysofworkingmorequickly.”

JanPolkerman

CEO,DutchTaxandCustomsAuthorityIT,Netherlands

15

Foreword

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

16

Thischallengeismoreevolutionthanrevolution.Thefundamentalsof

leadershiphaven’tchanged.TheCEOstillsetsstrategy,drivesfocus,and

makesthefinalcall.ButthepaceandstakesofthatevolutionarepromptingCEOstointentionallyredesigntheorganization,withthegoalofincreasingspeed,responsiveness,andcollaboration.

WhenAI-firstoperationsarethetarget,thelinesbetweenbusinessunitsblur.

Asstrategicobjectivesbecomeincreasinglyinterdependent,C-suiterolesare

evolving.Infact,theCEOswesurveyedsaytheyexpecttheinfluenceofevery

memberoftheC-suitetoincreasebetweentodayand2030.InfunctionssuchasmarketingandHRwhereAItransformationstartedfirstandhasimpactedmanyteamsandtoolsalready,theexpectedincreaseislowerthanothertech-centricareas,whereAIintegrationmaystillberampingup.

Inthiscontext,theroleoftheCAIOhasbecomecritical.In2026,76%of

organizationshavesomeoneinthisposition,upfromjust26%in2025.3

And100%oftheseCEOsexpecttheinfluenceofCAIOstoincreaseby2030.

Whentheyhaverealauthority,CAIOscanenablecalculatedrisk-takingacross

theorganization.Theseleaderstypicallyhaveastrongbackgroundinbothdataandbusinessstrategy,accordingtoour2025CAIOStudy,whichmeanstheycanbethevoicethatsetsclearAItransformationtargetsandprovidesguidelines

thatletteamsacceleratewithoutspinningoutofcontrol.4

TheChiefHumanResourceOfficer(CHRO)rolewillalsobecomemore

important,with59%ofCEOssayingtheCHRO’sinfluencewillincreaseoverthenextfewyears.Thisreflectsthat,inanAI-firstenterprise,peoplemustbemanagedinamoreintegratedway.InsteadoflimitingpeoplemanagementtotherealmofHR,itbecomespartofvirtuallyeverytechnological,operational,andfinancialinitiative.

AsAIcontinuestoplayalargerroleinmanagingemployees,breakingdown

thewallsbetweenITandHRwillbecomemissioncritical.Already,77%ofCEOssaytalentandtechnologyleadershiprolesareconverging.Acrosstheboard,

CEOsexpec