Are the analysts right? Is a CIO the wrong choice to lead a company? Or can CIOs become masterful CEOs? From the Jul 26, 1999 Sound Off ColumnLast Friday, everyone who read the New York Times business section discovered how little faith the world has in the ability of a CIO to lead a large corporation.The reaction, in the Times and other major newspapers, to Compaq’s appointment of Michael Capellas as its new CEO, was anything but encouraging. Analysts, the papers reported, were “skeptical” and “disappointed.” They bemoaned Capellas’s “lack of star power,” and they speculated that with Compaq’s executive turmoil, declining market position, and Chairman Ben Rosen’s reputation for back-seat driving, the board couldn’t find anyone else for the job. Desperate, reporters suggested, Rosen turned to a CIO. Even Wall Street offered up a lackluster reception to the news with a one dollar dip in Compaq stock.Are the analysts right? Is a CIO the wrong choice to lead a company? Or can CIOs become masterful CEOs? Capellas may well be the perfect pick for the job. With nearly twenty years in IT management–most recently as Compaq’s own CIO–Capellas certainly has a grasp of IT issues that escape most CEOs. He may even have the know-how to bring Compaq out of the ailing PC market and into enterprise computing. His predecessor, Eckhard Pfeiffer, had a more traditional marketing background, yet was ousted in April for failing to capitalize on the new business and distribution models that are all the rage in the Internet Economy. It is arguable that a CIO would not make that mistake.In a market where technology is transforming distribution channels, sales models, and customer service, technological sophistication separates the wheat from the chaff. CEOs who don’t get IT aren’t up to the challenge. How hard is it to see the wisdom of hiring a CEO who appreciates the power of information technology, and knows how to use it? Judging from last Friday’s paper, too hard for the analysts, and too hard for the mainstream press. What do you think? Can CIOs make good CEOs? Related content feature 10 most popular IT certifications for 2023 Certifications are a great way to show employers you have the right IT skills and specializations for the job. These 10 certs are the ones IT pros are most likely to pursue, according to data from Dice. By Sarah K. White May 26, 2023 8 mins Certifications Careers interview Stepping up to the challenge of a global conglomerate CIO role Dr. Amrut Urkude became CIO of Reliance Polyester after his company was acquired by Reliance Industries. He discusses challenges IT leaders face while transitioning from a small company to a large multinational enterprise, and how to overcome them. By Yashvendra Singh May 26, 2023 7 mins Digital Transformation Careers brandpost With the new financial year looming, now is a good time to review your Microsoft 365 licenses By Veronica Lew May 25, 2023 5 mins Lenovo news Alteryx works in generative AI for speedy analytics results OpenAI integration and AI wizardry for report generation are aimed at making Alteryx’s analytics products more accessible. By Jon Gold May 25, 2023 3 mins Analytics Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe