2026年全球CEO研究报告：重塑高管团队加速迈向（英文版）

GlobalC-suiteSeries

2026CEOStudy

RewiringtheC-suite

Thefasttrackto2030

IBMInstituteforBusinessValue

Contents

Foreword3

Introduction4

Play#1

RethinktheC-suiteforspeedandclarity14

Play#2

CreateanAI-agentflywheel20

Play#3

CustomizeyourAImix,notjustyourAImodels26

Play#4

Orchestrateintelligence—humanandartificial32

Play#5

Expectunpredictablefutures38

2

3

Orchestrate

intelligence

Expectunpredictable

futures

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

ForewordIntroductionRethink

theC-suite

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,andcapitalonceconsumedbyfriction.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.

4

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

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

TheCEOplays

Rethink

theC-suite

1

2

Createan

AI-agentflywheel

3

CustomizeyourAImix

4

Orchestrateintelligence

5

Expect

unpredictablefutures

Themindset

Wemustrethinkcross-functional

collaborationinourorganization

toaccelerateourpaceofbusiness.

WeareactivelyembeddingAI

acrossmultipleworkflowstooptimize

+17%

Revenuegrowth

comparedtoallotherorganizationsforthepastthreeyears

end-to-endefficiencyandeffectiveness.

WeprioritizeAIusecasesmorearoundlong-termdifferentiationthanshort-termROI.

SucceedingwithAIdependsmoreonpeople’sadoptionthanthetechnologyitself.

Wehaveateaminplace

todayassessingtheimpactofquantumonourindustry.

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

AplaybookforAI-firstsuccess

InTheenterprisein2030,IBMIBVanalysisunveiledfivepredictionsthatwilldefinethebusinesslandscapeofthefuture.2Our2026CEOStudyidentifiestheplaysCEOsmustmakenowtoturnthosepredictionsintopayoffsbytheendofthedecade.

Theprediction

Whattoexpectin2030

Theplay

Thepayoff

Sourcesofdifferentiation

WhatCEOscandotoday

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.

7

8

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

The2026CEOoutlook

TopCEOpriorities

What’smostimportant

1Productivityorprofitability

Cybersecurity

anddataprivacy

Talentrecruitingandretention

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

AIandtechnologymodernization

Customerexperience

Productand

serviceinnovation

Forecastaccuracy

Speedofexecution

Environmentalsustainability

Business

modelinnovation

Scalabilityof

servicedelivery

Supplychainperformance

Diversity

andinclusion

Talentrecruitingandretention

Marketingand

saleseffectiveness

Cybersecurity

anddataprivacy

Market

sharegrowth

Ecosystems

andpartnerships

orprofitability

3

4

5

6

7

Productand

serviceinnovation

Customerexperience

AIandtechnologymodernization

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Environmentalsustainability

Ecosystems

andpartnerships

Supplychainperformance

Scalabilityof

servicedelivery

Marketingand

saleseffectiveness

Diversity

andinclusion

Market

sharegrowth

Business

modelinnovation

202420252026

1Product

service

2

AI

modernization

3

Cybersecurity

anddataprivacy

4

Productivity

orprofitability

5

Forecast

accuracy

6

Customerexperience

7

Market

sharegrowth

8

Talentrecruitingandretention

9

Marketingand

saleseffectiveness

10

Scalabilityof

servicedelivery

11

Environmental

sustainability

12

Supplychain

performance

13

Business

modelinnovation

14

Diversity

andinclusion

15

Ecosystems

andpartnerships

Note:Speedofexecutionwasaddedasanoptionin2026toassesstheimpactofAI-drivenacceleration.

9

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

The2026CEOoutlook

TopCEOchallenges

What’smostdifficult

1Productivityorprofitability

202420252026

Business

1

modelinnovation

1

2

Productivity

EQ\*jc3\*hps24\o\al(\s\up1(n),o)

i

EQ\*jc3\*hps24\o\al(\s\up12(e),e)

ision

orprofitability

2

Scalabilityof

3

4

5

6

7

8

servicedelivery

3

Marketingand

saleseffectiveness

4

Environmentalsustainability

5

6

accuracy

7

Cybersecurity

anddataprivacy

8

9

Talentrecruitingandretention

9

Supplychainperformance

10

11

12

13

14

15

10

Market

sharegrowth

11

AIandtechnologymodernization

12

Productand

serviceinnovation

13

Ecosystemsandpartnerships

14

Customerexperience

15

Supplychainperformance

Talentrecruitingandretention

Business

modelinnovation

Scalabilityof

servicedelivery

Marketingand

saleseffectiveness

Environmentalsustainability

Productivity

orprofitability

Forecastaccuracy

Productand

serviceinnovation

Diversity

andinclusion

Cybersecurity

anddataprivacy

Ecosystems

andpartnerships

AIandtechnologymodernization

Customerexperience

Market

sharegrowth

Talentrecruitingandretention

2

3Speedofexecution

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Supplychainperformance

Business

modelinnovation

Scalabilityof

servicedelivery

Forecastaccuracy

Environmentalsustainability

AIandtechnologymodernization

Marketingand

saleseffectiveness

Cybersecurity

anddataprivacy

Diversity

andinclusion

Productand

serviceinnovation

Customerexperience

Market

sharegrowth

Ecosystems

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.

Toppriorities

1.Productivityorprofitability

2.AIandtechnologymodernization

3.Customerexperience

Topchallenges

1.Productivityorprofitability

2.Businessmodelinnovation

3.Cybersecurityanddataprivacy

11

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

The2026CEOoutlook

Insurance

Insuranceisalong-termbusinesswherecustomerretentioniskey.Thatmakesrisk

partnershipcritical—understandingwhatcustomersworryaboutmostandmatchingthatrisktotherightcoverageorservice.Futuredifferentiationwilldependonstrikingtherightbalancebetweentailoringproductsandexperiencesandmakingcoreoperationsmore

efficientandsecure.Human-led,AI-enabledunderwritingandoperationswillalsobeessentialtoimproveproductivityandprofitability.

Toppriorities

1.Productivityorprofitability

2.Customerexperience

3.AIandtechnologymodernization

Energyandresources

Topchallenges

1.Businessmodelinnovation

2.Forecastaccuracy

3.Cybersecurityanddataprivacy

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

Government

Federalandstate/provincial

Topchallenges

1.Talentrecruitingandretention

2.Productivityorprofitability

3.Environmentalsustainability

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.

PrimaryobjectiveofAIinvestments

Notinvesting

2024prediction2025prediction2026result

for2026for2026

0%0%7%

13%

33%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%

Growthandexpansion

72%

55%

13

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

Theprediction:Competitivepressurewillmakebigbetsnon-negotiable.

Play#1

RethinktheC-suite

forspeedandclarity.

Thepayoff:CEOswhoareremakingthe

C-suitewithanAI-firstmindsethavescaled10%moreAIinitiativesenterprisewide.

14

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Customize

yourAImix

Orchestrate

intelligence

Expectunpredictablefutures

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

16

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

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,

CEOsexpecttheirC-suiteleaderstoreinventthemselvesascross-enterpriseorchestratorsratherthanfunctionalspecialists.

“Dynamicstrategyplanning,continual

communication,andbeinghonestaboutwhythisishappeningareextremelyimportant.”

CarstenEgeriis

CEO,DanskeBank,Denmark

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize

yourAImix

CreateanAI-

agentflywheel

Expectunpredictable

futures

“AIneedstobeembeddedintohowweoperate.Thatmeansintegratingitintoworkflowsacrossdesign,merchandising,marketing,stores,andoperations—notasaseparateinitiative,butaspartofhowthe

businessruns.”

PatriceLouvet

PresidentandCEO,RalphLaurenCorporation,US

17

18

Foreword

Introduction

Rethink

theC-suite

Orchestrate

intelligence

Customize