CIOReview | | 19 OCTOBER 2023The role of the IT Executive (CIO, Head of IT, IT Manager and other related business titles) has always been critical in an organization's success, and in today's globalized economy, it has become even more challenging. The modern CIO must navigate the complexities of the business while ensuring that their organization's technological infrastructure remains secure, efficient, and cost-effective. We are part of the IT team of Novonor, a Brazilian business group with over 75 years of experience with companies in sectors like engineering, infrastructure, construction, petrochemical, sugar and energy, insurance, real estate, oil and gas and mobility and operation in 20 countries and over 35,000 employees. As a CIO in the engineering and construction industry, the challenges of managing a multi-market and multi-country company can be overwhelming. The industry has unique demands and complexities that require the CIO to have a deep understanding of the business operations, technology infrastructure, and regulatory requirements in each market and country. In this article, we will explore the challenges that we face at OEC and Horiens (companies of the Novonor group) and discuss strategies to overcome them.· Managing Technology in Diverse GeographiesThe engineering and construction industry operates in a diverse geographic footprint, with projects and operations spread across different regions and countries. This diversity requires us to ensure that the technology infrastructure is available and functioning correctly in all locations. We collaborate closely with the local teams to ensure that the technology infrastructure is tailored to meet each location's unique requirements, while also ensuring that it is consistent and standardized across all locations.One of the major difficulties is the lack of uniformity in infrastructure and connectivity as you can be operating at the same time in a major US airport and developing an oil refinery in the Angolan countryside. So, it is necessary to develop a technology strategy that considers the unique needs and requirements of each location and create a plan for standardizing and centralizing technology infrastructure where possible.By Ygor Silva Cezar, Head of IT, OEC Ronaldo Andrade, Head of Business Technology and CISO, Horiens Risk Advisors CHALLENGES IN THE ROLE OF A GLOBAL AND MULTI-MARKET IT EXECUTIVE The infrastructure must be sustainable in a way that not only the selected technology stack fits the initial purchase cost but also that it allows the operations to keep the active support for as long as possible, so choosing the right partners is a key decision, always seeking for the long-term relationshipRonaldo AndradeCXO INSIGHTS
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