From the computer room to the strategy table: The new role of CIO in digital transformation

(Dan Tri) - In the era of AI and data, CIOs are no longer technical infrastructure operators but sit at the strategic table, becoming digital architects connecting technology with business, culture and people.

“In the past, the business sector made requests and technology responded. The two sides were like two parallel lines. But now, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) has to sit at the same table and share concerns about revenue and market share,” said Tran Cong Quynh Lan, Deputy General Director and Director of Information Technology Sector of VietinBank , at the CIO Summit 2025 held in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Mr. Lan, technology cannot be separated from business operations. He used to be in charge of the retail sector at VietinBank, not to "encroach" but to understand the business rhythm as well as market pressure.

That experience helps the technology team design digital solutions that meet practical needs, instead of just “improvising” according to requirements. “CIOs today do not just issue certificates or organize courses, but must understand the concerns of the business sector. Only then will technology truly become a specific business solution,” he emphasized.

From another perspective, Mr. Tran Nhat Minh, Deputy General Director and Director of Digital Banking Divisionof VIB , calls his journey “escaping the IT comfort zone”. He believes that the role of CIO in Vietnam is shifting from information management to creating influence. This is an inevitable step in the context of AI becoming the center, forcing CIOs to take the lead instead of hiding behind.

According to Mr. Minh, the current CIO is the “digital architect” - the one who draws the blueprint for the future of the business. He cited the decision to move VIB’s Core Banking system to AWS Cloud, a strategic step in modernizing the banking infrastructure.

Chief Technology Officers at companies share about their roles in the new context (Photo: DT).

Not only in the financial sector, the role of CIO is also extended to the entire organization.

Ms. Tieu Yen Trinh, General Director of Talentnet Joint Stock Company, emphasized: "CIO will be the person who connects all employees of departments, not just limited to the IT department."

According to Ms. Trinh, digital transformation is essentially a digital cultural transformation. That means businesses must put AI, data and automation into operation, and equip each employee with digital skills so that no one is left behind. “Without cultural transformation, there will be no successful digital transformation,” she affirmed.

2025 is considered a pivotal moment: AI explodes, data becomes a strategic asset, and cybersecurity rises to become a national risk. Vietnam aims to become a regional innovation hub, and this requires a generation of CIOs of sufficient stature. They not only operate systems or handle incidents, but also participate in strategic planning linked to business growth and national orientation.

If in the past CIOs were seen as “infrastructure managers”, they have now moved up to the role of strategic advisors, working closely with departments such as business, marketing, and production to create new value. In other words, CIOs are now both the person who ensures the smooth operation of the data system and the agent of revenue and market share growth.

Experts at the CIO Summit 2025 agreed that this role will continue to change. If yesterday CIOs were behind the scenes, today they are sitting at the strategy table. And tomorrow, in the AI ​​era, CIOs will become the “digital soul” of the business – the person who connects technology with people, inspires innovation and creates sustainable competitive advantages.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/tu-phong-may-ra-ban-chien-luoc-vai-tro-moi-cua-cio-trong-chuyen-doi-so-20251003144826204.htm