Our farewell issue of CIO magazine

A few years ago at one of our CIO events, one of the speakers was wrapping up a talk about leading big-data projects, which happened to be the subject of our cover story that month. Gesturing toward the scattered piles of CIO magazines, she graciously suggested everyone make sure to read “the excellent story in those pamphlets on your tables.” I saw a number of sympathetic grins from CIOs in the audience as I got up to thank her. “Lady, that’s no pamphlet,” I said lightly. “That’s my magazine!”

We’ve known for a long time that the light in CIO magazine’s tunnel wasn’t sunshine. Media companies have been aggressively driving the digital train for the past decade, welcoming on board the advertisers that once fueled the robustly profitable business model for print magazines. The good news is that CIO’s brand is thriving in all the right markets: IT leadership events, online and custom publishing. But our days in print are done.

Reading our final cover story (“The CIO at a Global Elevator Company Is Pushing the Right Buttons“), I was struck by the conviction that digital transformation is now common ground for us all, no matter your business or industry.

At $9.3 billion Schindler Group, the transition started in 2009 under CIO Michael Nilles’ leadership. Today, the elevator company’s digital organization is just as critical as its mechanical one. While the Internet of Things and mobile technologies play starring roles, Nilles says Schindler’s transformation is less about specific technologies and more about changing “your business model to stay at the forefront of your industry.”

Bringing IT leaders to the forefront of the business landscape has been our core mission since CIO‘s first issue in September 1987. We’ve chronicled your career journeys. We’ve tracked your C-suite successes and failures. We’ve advocated for your expanding role in shaping business strategy.

We are forever grateful that so many of you shared your stories with us over the years. But ultimately, your greatest source of knowledge, strength and wisdom is each other.

My parting advice is this: Stay active in your IT leadership community. Attend as many CIO events as you can. On CIO.com, follow Senior Writer Clint Boulton’s stories. And sign up for our Insider program (www.cio.com/insider), where our talented Executive Editor, Mitch Betts, will keep you supplied with the kind of in-depth articles, expert advice and research insights you’ve come to expect from a magazine devoted to your success.

Take care and stay in touch. Fondly, as always…