Welcome to this week’s edition of CIOsurge!

This week:

• Data monetization tops CIO priorities, but governance and legal risks must be addressed from the start.

• Nearly two-thirds of AI projects deliver under 50% ROI, with few reaching full deployment, according to CDW.

• Estée Lauder and Smoothie King name new CIOs to lead ambitious tech and data transformation efforts.

Let’s make this week a game-changer.

Stay sharp. Stay ahead.

📊 Turning enterprise data into revenue without losing control

Monetizing enterprise data is now the top driver of IT investment, according to the 2025 State of the CIO survey. Experts recommend treating data like a product—starting with clear market use cases and rigorous governance. Actionable, unique datasets can drive meaningful revenue, but security, compliance, and productization risks must be carefully managed to avoid legal and reputational fallout.

We’re sitting on mountains of data, but the real challenge is extracting value without introducing risk. The days of data lakes just “existing” are over—now it’s about operationalizing and monetizing the right slices of that data responsibly. That starts with defining what problems your data solves and ensuring it’s packaged with compliance baked in.

If your data monetization strategy doesn’t involve security and legal teams from day one, it’s dead on arrival. CIOs should lead the charge by pushing for cross-functional revenue models, embedded analytics, and Data-as-a-Service offerings—but always with controls that prevent shadow pipelines or consent violations. Monetization is only smart if it’s sustainable.

 - Zack Tembi

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🤖 AI deployment stalls as ROI stays out of reach

According to CDW, nearly two-thirds of surveyed IT leaders reported less than 50% ROI on their AI projects, and fewer than 2% broke even. Despite widespread AI experimentation, only about one-third of top-priority initiatives reached full deployment. Unfit data, unclear use cases, and market confusion continue to slow progress, even as long-term optimism remains high.

We’ve all seen the AI hype cycle play out across vendors and boardrooms—but real ROI? That’s still rare. The problem isn’t lack of effort; it’s poor foundations. Without clean data, skilled staff, and realistic expectations, scaling AI is more science experiment than transformation strategy.

The takeaway for CIOs is clear: we can’t treat AI like a plug-and-play cost cutter. It’s a lifecycle challenge that demands governance, cross-functional buy-in, and a tight feedback loop on value creation. Until that’s in place, most projects won’t get past pilot—or justify the spend.

- Zack Tembi

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💬 Zack's Take

🤝 Accessible Networking: Opening Doors for Future Leaders

One thing I've consistently seen missing from traditional executive networking groups is openness—they tend to be exclusive, costly, and difficult to break into. It never sat right with me that you should need to pay thousands of dollars just to engage with your peers or find mentorship. That's why I'm passionate about creating an open ecosystem at CIO Surge.

This openness isn’t just altruism—it's practical. I regularly learn from conversations with individual contributors facing frontline challenges, not just fellow C-level executives. The insight gained from these diverse interactions is invaluable for understanding market dynamics and emerging threats.

By cultivating a genuinely inclusive network, we provide opportunities for everyone involved—whether it’s an aspiring CIO meeting senior leadership, or seasoned executives gaining fresh perspectives from those on the ground. Accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential to growing resilient, innovative leadership.

🗞️ At A Glance

Global tariffs shake up CIOs’ IT agendas

Dell Touts Disaggregated Infrastructure To Return Value As Partners Seek VMware Relief For Customers

Small data centers, big impact: How demand response can fuel the energy transition

Microsoft adds enterprise search and ‘digital labor’ tools to M365 Copilot

Green IT Services Market Size to Surpass USD 69.4 Billion by 2032, Owing to Rising Sustainability Initiatives and Demand for Energy-Efficient Infrastructure

License cap expanded to 2400! Microsoft 365 Copilot CSP Getting Started 15% off promo extended

SAP banks on cloud’s stability to navigate tariff turbulence

💡 CIO Spotlights

Estée Lauder taps Brian Franz to lead tech and data transformation

• Former State Street CIO Brian Franz joins Estée Lauder as its first chief technology, data, and analytics officer, succeeding outgoing CIO Michael Smith.

• Franz will oversee enterprise data, AI, and IT modernization as part of Estée Lauder’s largest tech transformation to date.

• CEO Stéphane de La Faverie cites Franz’s experience as key to executing the company’s "Beauty Reimagined" strategy.
  

  Read the full story

Sprinklr hires Sanjay Macwan to bolster tech and security leadership

• Jyoti Lynch steps in as CIO at Smoothie King, bringing 25+ years of tech and franchise experience to boost innovation and guest experience.

• Lynch aims to use AI and digital tools to streamline franchise operations and drive brand visibility.

• CEO Wan Kim praised her leadership, calling her a key driver of the brand’s next phase of tech-forward growth.
  

  Read the full story

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🤝 Jobs

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VP & CIO - Deltek

CISO - Future Electronics Company

VP, Global CIO Advisory - Gartner Research Board

Deputy CIO - MetroPlusHealth