Publication

Complex information technology (IT) projects, such as upgrading legacy systems, migrating infrastructure and data to the cloud, or integrating major systems in the wake of a merger, present major challenges for all companies. Such projects might be critical elements of broader initiatives to transform the business itself—strategic efforts often referred to as digital transformations. They might be driven by the goal of improving existing business processes. In either case, these projects carry significant risks, including the risks of disruptions to customer service, operational inefficiencies, and breaches of data security.

On June 7, 2019, members of the North American and European Audit Committee Leadership Networks (ACLN and EACLN) met in New York to discuss how board oversight can help to minimize the risks of IT projects. They were joined by three chief information officers: Suja Chandrasekaran, former CIO and head of digital at Kimberly-Clark Corp.; Robin Dargue, CIO of WPP plc; and Rahul Samant, CIO of Delta Air Lines.