Annual event to recognize exceptional CIOs for strategy, leadership and business impact

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS / ACCESS Newswire / January 12, 2026 / The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium today announced nominations for the 19th Annual MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award are now open. Since 2008, the Award has been recognizing and honoring Chief Information Officers (CIOs) from around the world leading their organizations in delivering exemplary levels of business value through the innovative use of IT.

Although the responsibilities of technology leaders have expanded far beyond traditional IT, often encompassing digital transformation, data strategy, and AI leadership, the MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award has kept the title "CIO" for historical and practical reasons. When the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium was founded more than twenty years ago, "CIO" was the widely understood title for the senior-most information technology executive. Even as roles have evolved into CDO, CAIO, or broader hybrid leadership positions, no alternative title has emerged with the same clarity or industry-wide recognition. The term "CIO" remains the strongest and most inclusive shorthand for the leaders driving digital technologies, and AI-enabled transformation across the enterprise, which is why the name endures.

Nomination Criteria

The Award attracts applicants from a wide diversity of industries and backgrounds. All Award finalists are great leaders of IT and are seen by their peers as business executive colleagues, not just technology experts.

Nominees must hold the title of CIO or equivalent and be the highest-level IT leader in the organization. Applicants, including self-nominations, are welcome from for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Past award winners and their organizations have received significant attention and recognition as a result of the Award. Recent MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award winners include:

• Monica Caldas (2025 Winner), Executive Vice President, Global Chief Information Officer, Liberty Mutual Insurance

• Chris Bedi (2024 Winner), Chief Customer Officer, ServiceNow

• Thomas Peck (2023 Winner), Executive Vice President & Chief Information and Digital Officer, Sysco

Judging Criteria

A panel of CIOs, industry thought leaders and MIT Sloan-affiliated professionals will act as judges. To be considered, applicants should complete part one of the initial application immediately to indicate their interest. Applicants who wish to move forward in the process must finalize part two by the deadline of February 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The online application can be found at https://mitcio.com/posts/forms-contacts-cio-leadership-award-application-request-form. Please contact award@mitcio.com with any questions about the application process.

Key characteristics of MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award winners include:

• Exceptional Communicator - Articulates a vision for strategic business value from IT and works across the organization to build partnership around this vision. Focuses communications on value and innovation, not technology. Helps all IT staff to understand the business and speak the language of business leaders.

• Recognized IT Leader - Clearly demonstrates value-for-money in the management of core IT services - providing the right services at the right price and the right level of quality. Recognized among peers as an effective leader of the IT unit.

• Driver of Business Value - Understands the business and needs of the CEO, CFO, Line-of-Business heads and other senior executives. Ensures clear focus on potential and realized value in all IT initiatives. Incorporates IT into business decision-making by participating in key strategic conversations, suggesting innovative uses of IT, and for managing risk.

• CIO-Plus - Exercises authority beyond IT itself. Considered a trusted member of the senior executive team, not just a technology leader. Suggests innovative uses of IT to transform the business - and successfully executes the changes. May receive additional non-IT responsibilities such as Chief Operating Officer or VP of Strategy, or strategic temporary roles such as Head of M&A integration.

"As organizations navigate a future defined by human-AI synergy, CIOs must integrate technology, strategic judgment, and accountability into their enterprise strategy," said Dr. George Westerman, co-chair of the Award Program. "Leaders will share their insights and experiences in addressing these challenges at the 2026 Symposium, and the MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award will honor those exceptional CIOs whose impact is shaping the future."

Award finalists will be formally recognized at an exclusive dinner on May 18, 2026, where the winner will be announced. All finalists will also have opportunities to share their insights in panels on the day of the Symposium, May 19, 2026.

About the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium

The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium is the premier global conference for CIOs and digital business executives. CIOs, CDOs and senior IT executives explore enterprise technology innovations, business practices and receive actionable information that enables them to meet the challenges of today and the future. The Symposium offers a unique learning environment by bringing together the academic thought leadership of MIT with the in-the-trenches experience of leading global CIOs and industry experts. The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium is organized and developed by the MIT Sloan Boston Alumni Association. For more information and to register for this year's Symposium, visit https://mitcio.com/, and engage with the Symposium on LinkedIn.

SOURCE: MIT CIO Symposium