Secrets of the CDOs

Five years ago there were just a few dozen CDOs in corporations around the world, and most of those were in financial institutions, focussed on the data requirements of regulatory compliance and risk management. Fast forward to 2017 and the role has exploded across virtually all industries and government, and has expanded into areas of customer marketing, operations, policy and technology. Priorities have changed quickly, and the CDO now has a potential role anywhere data can be leveraged or monetized as a corporate asset. The timing of this expansion provides unprecedented professional opportunity for everyone who works with data today. But like any senior executive responsibility, you need more than the right academic degree or technical skills.

We learned from Ursula Cottone, our opening Keynote speaker, that the path to the CDO's office is not a straight line. So to footnote that opening talk, we've asked a group of current and former CDOs to a frank conversation about the nature of the job, how it is changing, and what they see as the biggest areas of opportunity for up-and-coming data and business professionals today.

Jim Tyo is the enterprise Chief Data Officer for Nationwide. He is responsible for overall strategic vision, planning, execution and management of all activities related to operation of the Enterprise Data Office (EDO) for Nationwide. With the overarching goal of providing trusted data services for business optimization, they own and deliver on the data and analytics strategy by enabling alignment of needs, skills and governance across the lifecycle of solutions through improved data accessibility and analytic capabilities. They are the champions of data as a strategic asset to challenge and improve current products, services, and processes. Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle, and boat insurance. Jim formerly worked at BB&T; one of the largest financial services holding companies in the U.S., where he was their first enterprise CDO, and USAA; a member-owned association dedicated to providing financial services to the military community and their families, where he began their first Chief Data Office. Prior to USAA, Jim held senior positions within GE Capital and Key Bank.

Ms. Casey is Principal at CDO, LLC, a boutique consultancy supporting the development of large-scale enterprise information management, data governance, and data security strategic plans and implementation efforts. Prior to CDO, LLC, Ms. Casey was the first state Chief Data Officer in the country, and part of the Governor’s Office in the State of Colorado. Ms. Casey was responsible for developing and executing the State of Colorado’s enterprise data strategy and data governance and data management frameworks across the State’s Executive Branch agencies. She coordinated legislative and policy actions as necessary for this strategic effort, and helped architect a groundbreaking series of laws between 2008 and 2010 to further the State’s information sharing agenda. Ms. Casey’s emphasis is on large scale, enterprise-wide, policy rich projects, and she brings strengths in business strategy, data management, data governance, and data security.

John Bottega is a senior strategy and data management executive with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. Over his career, John has held various positions in supporting a firm's data management functions. Since 2006, John has held the title of Chief Data Officer in both the private and public sectors, serving as CDO for Citi and Bank of America, and holding the post of CDO for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Today, John is the Principal and Managing Member of his own consulting firm, Data Management Advisory Services, LLC, and is supporting the Enterprise Data Management Council as Senior Advisor and Consultant, responsible for the Council's CDO Forum and Data Management Practices. As the former Chief Data Officer at Bank of America, John was responsible for driving the enterprise data management strategy.?

Carl-Johan (CJ) Nakamura is a Fortune 500 Business Technology leader and Serial Entrepreneur in Healthcare IT, Technology, and Finance across the US, Europe and Asia. Founded start-ups and served on boards at 7 ventures, with 4 successful exits to public and private firms. His corporate experience encompasses leading Siemens Health Service's Global PMO for Meaningful Use and Software Migrations, managing Clinical IT implementations at some of US largest acute care provider networks, founded the Business Analytics & Monitoring group at Siemens, and most recently the acting Global Head of the Enterprise Data Management office at Cerner Corporation. CJ thrives to entrepreneurially bringing together people, products and processes, to create evidence-based value outcomes through innovative, disruptive and financial advantages for his stakeholders and clients. Winning with integrity, openly and transparently, with high level of creative innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and with no second agenda describes his mantra. CJ speaks 5 languages. Former chess champion of Sweden. Long distance runner. Soccer coach. Penn State board advisor. Educated at Harvard, NTU and New York University. Lived in Stockholm, Tokyo, London, Milan, Boston, NYC and currently residing in Philadelphia with wife and two daughters.