MIT Sloan CIO Symposium Names Leading Chief Information Officers as Finalists for the 2014 CIO Leadership Award

The 11th Annual MIT Sloan CIO Symposium today announced five finalists for the 2014 MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award. The winner will be announced on the eve of the Symposium, which takes place at MIT on May 21, 2014.

The MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award honors Chief Information Officers (CIOs) who lead their organizations to deliver business value and innovative use of IT in exceptional ways.

“It is a great honor to recognize the finalists for the 2014 CIO Leadership Award,” said Dr. George Westerman of MIT’s Center for Digital Business, Co-Chair of the Award Program. “Each of these CIOs are extraordinary leaders and innovators who have delivered tremendous value to their organizations, and advanced their ability to compete and succeed in today’s digital world.”

The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium 2014 MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award finalists are:

Thaddeus Arroyo

As CIO for AT&T (NYSE: T), Mr. Arroyo, is responsible for the company’s information technology and oversees systems supporting all AT&T business segments and global compute and storage services. In addition to directing the company’s internal information technology organization and internal and external customer-hosting data centers, he is responsible for AT&T’s digital properties and capabilities across all business segments. Arroyo has successfully advanced AT&T’s IT transformation strategy from integration, rationalization, and capabilities development to an innovation-fueled organization focused on transforming business processes and market offerings in ways that create new value and velocity for AT&T’s business, customers, and partners.

"Harnessing disruptive technologies to drive business transformation requires collaboration from nearly every corner of an organization," said Thaddeus Arroyo, CIO, AT&T. "This recognition reflects the commitment of AT&T's leaders and employees to rethink our business and deliver the best possible experiences for our customers."

Dr. Dieter Haban

Dr. Haban is responsible for the entire Daimler Trucks North America IT systems network and overarching IT technology strategy for the company’s manufacturing network across North America. His organization guides the company’s technology strategy with a specific focus on creating innovative solutions to improve company IT processes. Dr. Haban joined Daimler in 1990 and has held various management positions throughout the Daimler organization including oversight of numerous global projects. He joined Daimler Trucks North America as CIO in 2005.

"I take great pride in leading Daimler Trucks North America's technology strategy with a specific focus on creating innovative solutions to improve company processes," said Dr. Dieter Haban, CIO, Daimler Trucks North America. "The honor of being chosen as a finalist for the MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award validates my team's substantial efforts to stay at the forefront of the commercial vehicle industry in terms of customer focus and information technology."

Adriana Kariboutis

Ms. Karaboutis was appointed Vice President and Global CIO for Dell in November 2011. In this role, she is responsible for managing an efficient and innovative global IT enterprise focused on enabling the transformation of Dell into an end-to-end solutions provider. She has been with Dell since 2010.

“To be recognized as a finalist for the MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award is a tremendous distinction in an industry full of merit,” said Andi Karaboutis, Vice President and Global CIO, Dell. “The award is a reflection of the innovative work the Dell IT team continually delivers to create business value for Dell.”

Stephen Neff

Mr. Neff is the Enterprise CTO at Fidelity Investments, a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing and other financial products and services. As a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, he is responsible for the coordination and execution of the firm’s technology functions and chairs the enterprise CIO council.

"We have reached an important inflection point for business and technology where technology leadership plays an increasingly critical role in ensuring our customers’ success,” said Stephen Neff, Enterprise CTO, Fidelity Investments. “In that light, I am very honored to be considered for the MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award.”

Rebecca Rhoads

Ms. Rhoads is President of Global Business Services (GBS) and CIO of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN). Rebecca was named CIO in April 2001 and is responsible for the company’s global IT strategy, processes and personnel. Her vision to leverage common systems and deliver business value was instrumental in Raytheon establishing GBS in January 2013. She leads the shared services group in expanding common business operations across the functional service delivery areas for supply chain, finance, IT, HR and advanced media.

"While I am honored to be among such an accomplished set of finalists, for me this is recognition of the tremendous work by my team and Raytheon in leading the way as a digital enterprise for our customers and industry,” said Rebecca Rhoads, President, Global Business Services and CIO, Raytheon Company.

After two rounds of intense review, a panel of judges that includes CIOs, academic researchers and IT professionals, selected the five finalists who exhibit the key traits of a CIO leader:

Strong Communicator

Articulates a vision for strategic business value from IT and works across the organization to build partnership around this vision. Focuses communications on value and innovation, not technology. Helps all IT staff to understand the business and speak the language of business leaders.

Proven Manager

Clearly demonstrates value-for-money in the management of core IT services – providing the right services at the right price and the right level of quality. Recognized among peers as an effective leader of the IT unit.

Value Driver

Understands the business and needs of the CEO, CFO, Line-of-Business heads and other senior executives. Ensures clear focus on potential and realized value in all IT initiatives. Incorporates IT into business decision-making by participating in key strategic conversations, suggesting innovative uses of IT, and managing risk.

Trusted Partner

Exercises authority beyond IT itself. Considered a trusted member of the senior executive team, not just a technology leader. Suggests innovative uses of IT to transform the business – and successfully executes the changes. May receive additional non-IT responsibilities such as Chief Operating Officer or VP of Strategy, or strategic temporary roles such as Head of M&A integration.

These criteria are adapted from the award-winning book The Real Business of IT: How CIOs Create and Communicate Value, which draws extensively upon research conducted at MIT Sloan.

For more details and to view the full agenda, visit www.mitcio.com.

About the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium

The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium is the premier global event for CIOs and senior IT executives to become better business leaders. In one day, CIOs and senior IT executives receive actionable information that enables them to meet the challenges of today’s changing global economy. The annual event offers a day of interactive learning and thought-provoking discourse on the future of technology, business, and best practices that is not available anywhere else. The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium is organized and developed by a team from the MIT Sloan Boston Alumni Association and the MIT Center for Digital Business. Visit www.mitcio.com for more information and registration.