Redefining the CIO: Bridging Technology, Leadership, and Strategic Impact
Imtiaz Iqbal is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Mercury Systems (NYSE: MRCY), a global leader in specialized electronics manufacturing for aerospace and defense. As a seasoned IT executive and digital transformation strategist, he drives Mercury's digital vision and strategy, overseeing product engineering technologies, advanced analytics, cybersecurity, business systems, and infrastructure. With a proven track record of leading large-scale technology initiatives and fostering high-performance global teams, Iqbal partners with executive leadership to integrate cutting-edge capabilities that position companies for success in competitive markets.A Global Journey of Leadership and Digital Transformation
I pursued my degree in computer engineering from Mangalore University in India. Starting my career as a software engineer in Saud Bahwan Group in Oman, I was promoted to the role of project manager within four years. Eventually, I moved to HSBC in Dubai as a program manager before transitioning to the U.S. as a software consultant for ERP and analytics solutions. This consultant gig got me into a Swiss company Givaudan in Geneva, progressing to senior director of IT over 13 years where I focused on strategic systems roadmap including ERP implementation post-spinoff from Roche Pharmaceuticals.
Serving these various roles, my career spanned multiple international assignments in Switzerland, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, China, Japan and across Europe. This guided me to establish a strategy for a $6 billion company. Also, I emphasized the importance of global expertise and managing diverse and distributed teams.
To polish my business background, I obtained an MBA from Xavier University. This degree took me to Smith & Nephews as VP of global applications where I was responsible for overseeing IT strategy across 48 manufacturing sites. I led a digital transformation journey integrating SAP and enhancing back-office systems. I joined as a Lifesciences and Pharmaceuticals division CIO at Corning driving digital transformation and unifying disparate systems.
Currently, in Mercury Systems, I am responsible for crafting IT strategies for the company’s growth and integrating digital solutions across product development and manufacturing. This demonstrates the importance of adapting to new technologies for better business outcomes.
We prioritize IT investments through a triangular approach that encompasses cost, capability, and value to ensure alignment with business goals. Our leadership philosophy is based on empowering IT teams, engaging with business stakeholders, and managing vendor relationships to achieve diverse projects successfully.
Navigating Technical and Adaptive Challenges in IT Leadership
As a leader of the IT function, we mostly encounter both adaptive and technical problems. Technical problems require clear and predefined solutions like increasing productivity handled with confidence and familiarity. However, adaptive problems are more complex that require holistic and integrated solutions, including multiple stakeholders who advocate for a comprehensive view of the problem before implementing solutions. So, it is the role of the CIO to stay updated with the evolving era of technology and understand how business models impact digital strategies.
Balancing Innovation, Business Acumen, and Leadership
Throughout my experience, I have identified two evolving aspects necessary for success in the CIO role. Firstly, the rapid evolution of technology needs innovation and constant adaption. Secondly, CIOs should understand the dynamics of business models and align technology strategies with operational needs. It is not enough to merely implement technology solutions, successful CIOs should act as enablers of business outcomes. This will drive them to propose innovative uses of technology to solve business challenges and enhance operational efficiency. At the same time, they should ensure they forge strong relationships among the IT teams across the organization. It is important for the CIOs to earn trust and collaboration from every member at all levels by demonstrating their ability to maximize business value through technology. Beyond technical expertise, CIOs must also acquire a deep understanding of the business they operate in that encompasses supply chain dynamics, customer needs and different marketing strategies.
These are the qualities that I believe underlines the importance of CIO that should have technical dexterity and expertise in strategic thinking, leadership, and relationship management to drive meaningful change and innovation within organizations.
The Evolving Role of the CIO: From IT Management to Strategic Business Leadership
Amidst the changing technological and business landscapes, the role of the CIO is also evolving. Traditional IT implementations like ERP, sales transactions systems are still crucial, but they are becoming increasingly commodity. The future role of the CIO is more about leveraging intelligent analytics, artificial intelligence, and data science to proactively drive business results. This paradigm shift requires CIOs and their IT teams to be advanced in gathering organizational data for strategic insights and operational improvements. The goal is not merely to inherit technical implementation skills; it is more about making informed decisions, plan more effectively and unleash the hidden value of company’s data through advanced technologies.
Embracing the CIO Role as a Business Leader
One advice to my peers would be to consider the position of CIO as business leadership role and accordingly they should build themselves, emphasizing the importance of sharpening business acumen and leading cross-functional teams. Technological skills are important to inherit but achieving tangible business results is paramount. The demographics of the workforce are also changing as the new generation is approaching with advanced skills and resourcefulness. CIOs should be able to channel this talent pool to drive business success, which is significant for current and future prospects. They should prioritize continuous adaptation and leadership to make the best of these organisational shifts.
Navigating Technical and Adaptive Challenges in IT Leadership
As a leader of the IT function, we mostly encounter both adaptive and technical problems. Technical problems require clear and predefined solutions like increasing productivity handled with confidence and familiarity. However, adaptive problems are more complex that require holistic and integrated solutions, including multiple stakeholders who advocate for a comprehensive view of the problem before implementing solutions. So, it is the role of the CIO to stay updated with the evolving era of technology and understand how business models impact digital strategies.
Balancing Innovation, Business Acumen, and Leadership
Throughout my experience, I have identified two evolving aspects necessary for success in the CIO role. Firstly, the rapid evolution of technology needs innovation and constant adaption. Secondly, CIOs should understand the dynamics of business models and align technology strategies with operational needs. It is not enough to merely implement technology solutions, successful CIOs should act as enablers of business outcomes. This will drive them to propose innovative uses of technology to solve business challenges and enhance operational efficiency. At the same time, they should ensure they forge strong relationships among the IT teams across the organization. It is important for the CIOs to earn trust and collaboration from every member at all levels by demonstrating their ability to maximize business value through technology. Beyond technical expertise, CIOs must also acquire a deep understanding of the business they operate in that encompasses supply chain dynamics, customer needs and different marketing strategies.
The role of CIO is evolving amidst rapid technological proliferation. Along with developing technology implementation skills, we also prioritize strategic thinking, leadership, and relationship management to drive meaningful change and innovation within organizatio
These are the qualities that I believe underlines the importance of CIO that should have technical dexterity and expertise in strategic thinking, leadership, and relationship management to drive meaningful change and innovation within organizations.
The Evolving Role of the CIO: From IT Management to Strategic Business Leadership
Amidst the changing technological and business landscapes, the role of the CIO is also evolving. Traditional IT implementations like ERP, sales transactions systems are still crucial, but they are becoming increasingly commodity. The future role of the CIO is more about leveraging intelligent analytics, artificial intelligence, and data science to proactively drive business results. This paradigm shift requires CIOs and their IT teams to be advanced in gathering organizational data for strategic insights and operational improvements. The goal is not merely to inherit technical implementation skills; it is more about making informed decisions, plan more effectively and unleash the hidden value of company’s data through advanced technologies.
Embracing the CIO Role as a Business Leader
One advice to my peers would be to consider the position of CIO as business leadership role and accordingly they should build themselves, emphasizing the importance of sharpening business acumen and leading cross-functional teams. Technological skills are important to inherit but achieving tangible business results is paramount. The demographics of the workforce are also changing as the new generation is approaching with advanced skills and resourcefulness. CIOs should be able to channel this talent pool to drive business success, which is significant for current and future prospects. They should prioritize continuous adaptation and leadership to make the best of these organisational shifts.
