The CIO is no longer the quiet engineer behind the scenes. The role has shifted dramatically in recent years – just as the demands on it have. That shift has only been reinforced by today’s geopolitical landscape.
Anne Nørklit Lønborg, predecessor in the role of Board Leader and Group CIO at ECCO, and Susanne Thorskov Hansen, her successor and CIO at Alfa Laval, understand this well:
‘The expectation that the CIO contributes strategically to the company’s development and growth is now greater than ever in many businesses. That means the ability to navigate complex business environments and understand the strategic implications of technology decisions has become even more important,’ says Anne.
Susanne agrees, and points to communication as a key requirement for a CIO contributing to business strategy:
‘Today, the CIO has a seat at the table, although it might look different in different organizations. But it is certainly no longer just about whether a new system is technically up and running. Success is measured by whether we realize the business benefits described in the business case, and whether we can communicate technology in a business outcome language. And I believe it’s extremely important that the management layer beneath us thinks in the same way and maintains the same focus.’
A new geopolitical reality
Yet while the CIO may have earned that strategic seat at the table, Anne sees signs that in some companies, the development could be heading in a different direction:
‘We may be reaching a fork in the road for the CIO role in some organizations – where, rather than rehiring a CIO who works closely with top management, takes responsibility for sourcing, finance, and IT structure, and acts as an advisor to strategic decisions, the role is split. Instead, they choose a CTO: a CIO who focuses on the pure technological aspects and acts as an advanced enterprise architect without the broader business mandate. Whether it’s a real trend, I don’t know – but it shows that it’s always about finding the right balance between technical expertise and strategic leadership to ensure we contribute effectively to the company’s overall goals.’
While the role has clearly shifted deeper into the business, another reality is increasingly asserting itself – one that Susanne believes CIOs must actively respond to:
‘The new geopolitical reality is – or should be – on the board’s agenda, and therefore on ours as well. We’re currently seeing that our companies’ digital foundations may be built on dependencies that need to be reconsidered. We have employees or departments in conflict zones, or we’re facing new regulations that force us to change direction. That’s when we can’t leave our leadership stranded – we need to help translate that complexity into something actionable. That’s a big responsibility. We need to take good care of the company.’
Focus on the role and the trust in the room
That responsibility, and the complexity and transformation of the CIO role, are exactly what drives the discussions in the CIO Transformation Board – and why both Anne and Susanne invest their time and effort in it:
‘The CIO Transformation Board is an extremely important network for discussing the strategic aspects of the CIO role and sharing best practices across our very diverse industries. The Board is not for everyone, nor should it be. That’s why I’d encourage us to protect the culture of the Board, keep our focus on the long-term evolution of the CIO role, and continue delivering concrete value to its members – especially through our focus on long-term strategic themes,’ Anne says.
And that baton is one Susanne is ready to carry as the new Board Leader:
‘The CIO Transformation Board is so important, particularly because we now know each other well enough to have open conversations about the challenges we face. We actively seek inspiration from one another, even though our business areas are very different. But just as important is having our antennae out into the world – staying ahead of what’s coming. That’s one of the areas where we get tremendous value from the input we receive through presentations at our meetings on the board and through study visits to each other and other relevant places. So, I will do everything I can to ensure we continue to have the trusted, confidential space we’ve built together.’
A member of the CIO Transformation Board since 2023, Susanne now steps into the role of Board Leader.
Susanne Thorskov Hansen
Susanne was appointed Group CIO and Group Vice President at Alfa Laval in December 2023. With a strong track record as a senior IT executive, she has previously held key leadership roles at Hempel, Nordea, and A.P. Moller-Maersk. In addition to her corporate responsibilities, she serves on the board of Marius Pedersen.
Anne Nørklit Lønborg
Anne was appointed Group CIO at ECCO as of May 2025. Prior to this, she was SvP, CIO for Business IT & Digitalisation at Tryg, largest Nordic insurance company, where she spearheaded the company’s digital transformation efforts and sharpened its strategic IT focus. She has also previously held positions in ATP and IBM. Anne a finalists for the prestigious CIO of the Year award in 2020. She served as Board Leader of the CIO Transformation Board from June 2023 to May 2025.
The CIO Transformation Board
In the Danish ICT Industry Association (IT-Branchen), we have the CIO Transformation Board, which brings together the most visionary CIOs from Denmark’s large and medium-sized companies. These are CIOs from businesses where digitalization is a strategic part of the business — but where there is also a desire to do more than just digitalize.
We aim not only to highlight Denmark’s most talented CIOs and share experiences and best practices across industries, but also to set the agenda in the media and with politicians regarding Denmark’s and the business sector’s digital future.
The CIO Transformation Board is created for those who also want to help find the new balance between people and technology. For those who have a stance and want to help influence our green transition, address the skills shortage, and strengthen growth in Denmark.