There’s a new kid in town, and it’s the chief data officer (CDO). The new position arose from a growing awareness of the value of data and recognition of an inability to take advantage of the opportunities that it provides — either due to technology, business, or basic cultural barriers.

This new role, however, varies significantly across organizations in terms of where it sits and what it does. These differences depend on the data legacy and current needs of the organization. This report looks at the phenomenon of the CDO, exploring which firms have adopted the role, the responsibilities and reporting lines of the new role, and what it means for the company.

It develops a taxonomy of different CDO focus areas and explores how the role evolves as data maturity improves. The report helps CIOs and their C-level peers to understand the concept of the CDO role and suggests ways in which CIOs can best partner with their new colleagues to transform their company into an insights-driven organization.