In the relentless churn of the 21st century, where technological progress often feels like a dizzying, untamed current, a new breed of corporate leader has emerged from the shadows of server rooms to the forefront of strategic decision-making.
These are the Chief Information Officers, and their expanded brethren – the Chief Digital, Technology, and Information Security Officers – who are no longer just keeping the lights on.
They are charting the course for entire enterprises, navigating a landscape increasingly defined by artificial intelligence and the twin imperatives of innovation and resilience.
Forbes’ 2025 CIO Next list isn’t just a compilation of names; it’s a vivid snapshot of this profound evolution.
For years, the CIO role was largely perceived as a technical gatekeeper, managing infrastructure and patching systems.
Today, it’s a sprawling remit, encompassing everything from risk management and strategic transformation to fostering new revenue streams and safeguarding digital trust.
This shift is particularly acute as companies grapple with the AI revolution.
While the promise of AI is immense, the reality can be challenging; a recent MIT report starkly highlighted that over 90% of enterprise generative AI pilots fail to deliver a return on investment.
The leaders celebrated on this list are the ones cracking that code, transforming nascent AI potential into tangible business impact.
From fast-casual giants like CAVA and Chipotle to financial titans such as BNY Mellon and Block, and even the National Football League, these executives are rewriting the rules of engagement.
Their achievements underscore a few critical themes: the strategic deployment of AI, the relentless pursuit of digital simplification, and the foundational importance of robust cybersecurity.
Consider the transformative power of AI in streamlining operations and boosting productivity.
At Marsh McLennan, Paul Beswick orchestrated the unification of IT systems across four major businesses, then deployed “LenAI,” an internal generative AI tool.
With an astounding 89% adoption rate, LenAI is estimated to save employees over 100 hours annually, translating to a staggering $160 million in productivity gains.
Similarly, Jenna Cline at Okta rolled out Gemini and over 60 other AI tools, on track to save more than 250,000 productive hours this fiscal year.
Her homegrown AI chatbot now autonomously handles over half of all IT user questions, freeing up human experts for more complex issues.
These aren’t just efficiency hacks; they’re fundamental shifts in how work gets done, allowing human capital to be redirected towards higher-value tasks.
The list also highlights how AI is being leveraged to enhance customer and employee experiences.
Curt Garner at Chipotle, for instance, scaled the restaurant chain’s digital arm into a multi-billion-dollar engine and introduced “Ava Cado,” an HR virtual assistant that slashed hiring time for managers by 75%.
At HP, Niall Johnston’s Customer Support AI agent resolves 78% of 19 million annual cases, achieving a 92% customer satisfaction score and allowing human agents to focus on more intricate problems.
This intelligent delegation not only improves service but also elevates the human role in the customer journey.
Beyond AI, the bedrock of modern enterprise lies in robust digital infrastructure.
Many leaders on the list have tackled the daunting task of consolidating and upgrading legacy systems – a digital spring cleaning long overdue for many mature organizations.
Mike Amend at Ford is leading a massive transition from decades-old data centers to a flexible multi-cloud infrastructure, freeing up substantial computing power for strategic AI initiatives.
Kim Basile at Kyndryl, fresh from a spin-off from IBM, dramatically reduced the company’s reliance on legacy applications, shrinking their number from 1,800 to fewer than 360 in just two years.
These migrations aren’t just about moving data; they’re about building agile, future-proof foundations capable of supporting continuous innovation.
Lea Sonderegger at Swarovski, a 130-year-old brand, is undertaking a “Digital Backbone Renovation program” to modernize its entire digital operating core, with digital offerings already accounting for 20% of total revenue.
In an era of escalating cyber threats, the role of the Chief Information Security Officer has never been more critical.
These leaders are not merely reacting to breaches but proactively building AI-powered defenses.
Dr. Kelly Fletcher, CIO of the Department of State, stands out for her team’s vigilance in identifying and preventing further data exfiltration during a 2023 Chinese hacking incident targeting Microsoft’s cloud environment – a feat that eluded over 20 other compromised organizations.
Latha Maripuri at Uber deployed AI-based detection that increased the identification of potential cyber threats by over 140%, championing an “AI-first defense strategy.”
These examples underscore that in the digital battleground, AI is not just an offensive weapon but an indispensable shield.
What truly unifies these diverse leaders is their ability to translate complex technological advancements into tangible business outcomes.
Whether it’s Mike Maresca at Ulta Beauty driving over $126 million in revenue through AI-powered personalization, or Jaime Montemayor at General Mills saving millions in transportation costs by automating customer orders, the impact is clear.
These are not just tech wizards; they are strategic visionaries, adept at connecting algorithms to bottom lines, and data points to human needs.
The Forbes CIO Next list serves as a powerful reminder that in the age of accelerated digital transformation, the true architects of progress are those who can harness technology not as an end in itself, but as a powerful lever for innovation, efficiency, and sustained growth.
They are the quiet forces reshaping industries, ensuring that the promise of AI doesn’t remain just hype, but delivers real, measurable value.
Their work is a testament to the evolving definition of leadership in a world being fundamentally remade by technology.
The expansion introduces agentic decision flows to bolster investigative capabilities for a national security agency in the EMEA region.
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu warns that companies must prioritize data sovereignty by building internal AI models to protect sensitive intellectual property.
Cities are deploying artificial intelligence on sanitation vehicles to monitor private property, raising complex questions about the future of urban privacy and municipal oversight.
