CDAOs are becoming crucial positions in organizations

CDAOs are now holding a strategic position in organizations and their role is becoming more established:

- mohan@bankingfrontiers.​com

A recent study by Gartner finds that 70% of Chief Data & Analytics Officers (CDAOs) in organizations have the primary responsibility for building the AI strategy and operating model for the organization. The study, titled 'The Gartner CDAO Agenda Survey for 2025' done during September-November 2024 among 504 data and analytics executive leaders across the world, showed that the CDAO role has become more established and strategic because of the complexity and ubiquity of data, its use and its value. It found that CDAOs reporting to the CEO increased to 36% in 2025, up from 21% in 2024.

AI A NEW HORIZON

According to Sarah James, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, 2025 is a critical year for CDAOs, as AI presents a new opportunity for them to establish their rank in AI leadership. She added that CDAOs' exposure across the organization, combined with their AI-ready data expertise, positions them uniquely to lead, guide and challenge their respective organizations to successfully deliver value from AI. This is making the CDAO's role pivotal to AI success, she adds.

She also reiterates that no other role has the opportunity to make the necessary connections and be at the center of the D&A and AI coalition of the willing.

Gartner says by 2027, as much as 75% of CDAOs not seen as essential to their organization's AI success will lose their C-level position.