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- ☁️ CIOs overspend on cloud but still see savings in scale
☁️ CIOs overspend on cloud but still see savings in scale
Cloud ROI Despite Overspend, Skills-Based Hiring Wins, New CIOs at UBS and Revlon
Zack Tembi
April 02, 2025
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Welcome to this week’s edition of CIOsurge!
This week:
Despite overspending by 30% on average, CIOs still report strong ROI from cloud investments, citing scalability and productivity gains.
Gartner finds hiring for potential outperforms hiring for proficiency, pushing CIOs to partner with HR on scalable learning ecosystems.
UBS and Revlon appoint new CIOs to drive global tech transformation and post-bankruptcy digital strategy.
Let’s make this week a game-changer.
Stay sharp. Stay ahead.
☁️ CIOs overspend on cloud but still see savings in scale
A new Azul survey shows 83% of CIOs exceeded their cloud budgets in 2024, overspending by an average of 30%. Yet 80% still report net cost savings, crediting cloud scalability, AI/ML capabilities, and productivity gains. Despite board-level scrutiny, most IT leaders plan to maintain or increase cloud investments, with optimization and FinOps playing key roles in controlling costs.
It’s no surprise we’re overspending—cloud costs are inherently hard to predict at scale. But the fact that most CIOs still see meaningful ROI shows that the conversation isn’t about cutting cloud spend; it’s about managing it more intelligently. Boards want clarity, not just optimism.
The takeaway here is to tighten optimization tactics without stalling innovation. That means stronger FinOps discipline, leveraging provider tools, and continuously re-architecting workloads for efficiency. Cloud’s value is real, but the cost curve needs sharper tools—and tighter narratives—to keep stakeholders aligned.
- Zack Tembi
🧠 Hiring for potential boosts performance and bridges skill gaps
Employees hired based on potential—not just proficiency—are nearly twice as likely to perform effectively, according to new Gartner research. As demand for evolving skills outpaces traditional talent pipelines, organizations that focus on promise and support development through skills-based learning networks see faster internal mobility and better preparedness for critical roles.
We’ve all faced the challenge of filling roles with candidates who check every box—especially in tech. But if we wait for perfection, we’ll always be hiring too slowly. Gartner’s data reinforces something many of us have learned the hard way: promise, when paired with structured support, can outpace polished resumes.
For CIOs, this means leaning into cross-functional collaboration with HR to redefine how we source and grow talent internally. Structured, skills-based learning ecosystems are more scalable than manager-led 1:1 upskilling—and better aligned to the pace of tech transformation. The best talent may not know everything yet, but if they’re willing and able to learn fast, that’s worth betting on.
- Zack Tembi
💬 Zack's Take
🌊 The Name "Single Fin" and Its Symbolism
The name Single Fin comes from my love for the ocean. If I’m not working, there’s a good chance I’m out sailing or surfing with my family. The water has always been a source of clarity and focus for me—and that connection to balance and movement felt like the perfect inspiration when we were building this company.
A fin might seem like a small detail, but it’s one of the most impactful human innovations. On a surfboard or a sailboat, a single fin provides stability, direction, and efficiency. It helps you glide further, faster, with more control. That’s exactly what we aim to do for our clients—help them move with purpose, speed, and confidence in complex digital environments.
Whether we’re optimizing data pipelines, cutting cloud costs, or tightening up security posture, the goal is always the same: smoother performance and better control. Just like that fin under the board, we stay mostly out of sight—but the impact is felt in every move the business makes.
🗞️ At A Glance
💡 CIO Spotlights
Oliver Bussmann steps in as UBS group CIO amid leadership transition
UBS has named Oliver Bussmann as group CIO, succeeding Michele Trogni, who retires after 25 years at the firm.
Bussmann joins from SAP, bringing experience in tech transformations and leadership roles at Allianz, Deutsche Bank, and IBM.
UBS COO Ulrich Koerner cited Bussmann’s global track record as key to advancing the bank’s tech strategy.
Revlon names Ralph Marshall to lead digital and tech transformation
Ralph Marshall will take over as Revlon’s chief information and digital officer on April 1, reporting directly to CEO Michelle Peluso.
Formerly CTO at Merlin and VP at Starbucks EMEA, Marshall brings global tech chops and a track record of aligning digital with business goals.
His hire comes as Revlon, post-bankruptcy, doubles down on innovation and consumer-focused digital experiences.