In the newest episode of CIONET’s #LeadershipDeepDive interview, Steven Huels, VP & GM of AI Business, Product, and Strategy at Red Hat, explores the recent technological advancements in the realm of AI.

Red Hat, recognized for its robust enterprise solutions, emphasizes open-source principles and platforms, which have been pivotal in virtualization and containerization. Steven highlights AI's transformative impact on businesses, stressing that it has evolved from a futuristic concept to an essential element of current business strategies. Currently at Red Hat, the AI strategy involves creating a composable platform that seamlessly integrates AI tools and models, supporting varied use cases from training to deployment.

Hendrik discusses with Steven the advancements in AI accessibility, efficiency, and integration today, and in the future where AI models are more consumable and seamlessly embedded in business applications.

Curious to know more? Don’t miss this inspiring conversation and watch the full interview now!

#DigitalLeadership #CIO #CXO #CTO #CIONET #innovation #technology #data #cloud #AI #OpenSource #RedHat

Steven Huels - VP & GM of AI Business at Red Hat - Harnessing AI for Enterprise Growth

Listen to the full #LeadershipDeepDive interview with Jay Subramanian, GM of Core Storage Platforms at Hitachi Vantara, who will be our panellist at CIONEXT | Mastering Complexity on the 19th of February! It’s high time to register 👉 www.cionext.com/20 and join us for the discussion on:

✔️ The Future of Mission-Critical Apps (and why it starts with the data)
✔️ The Power of Super Adaptability (diving into scalable data platforms)
✔️ Balancing Security and Rapid Innovation (how platforms bring the best of all worlds)

In this episode, Hendrik Deckers speaks with Jay Subramanian about fostering innovation and tackling key IT challenges, including hybrid cloud environments, diverse applications, and distributed workforces in an era of exponential data growth.

Jay emphasizes that while hybrid cloud enhances flexibility, it demands realistic planning, clear objectives, and a strategic approach to cost and risk management. He highlights the critical role of infrastructure consolidation and resource optimization, advocating for right-sizing and flexible "as-a-service" models in environments where data volume volatility is inevitable.

How can organizations optimize resources and manage costs while maintaining flexibility in data management? Do regulations like DORA and US DoD standards enhance security, or do they hinder growth? Listen to the full interview to find out!

Jay Subramanian - GM of Core Storage Platforms at Hitachi Vantara - Beyond Complexity in IT

This February, CIONET hosted CIONEXT | Mastering Complexity, powered by Hitachi Vantara. We're excited to share with you a new episode of our #LeadershipDeepDive series, featuring Isabelle Droll, CIO for Airline, Corporate, Hotels & Resorts, and Sustainability at TUI. Isabelle collaborated with us on this program together with André Exner.

In this insightful interview, Isabelle delves into TUI’s digital transformation journey within the highly complex travel and tourism industry. She explains how TUI is working to unify fragmented systems across markets into a single, global platform designed to deliver seamless and personalized customer experiences.

Together with Hendrik Deckers, Isabelle explores the strategic role of data integration, cloud migration, and AI-driven personalization in navigating complexity and boosting operational efficiency. From predictive maintenance and route optimization to dynamic packaging, TUI’s key initiatives are deeply rooted in strong collaboration between IT and the business.

Isabelle also emphasizes the evolving role of IT—from cost control to value creation—highlighting the importance of trusted supplier partnerships, nearshore development hubs, and internal AI upskilling programs.

Curious to learn more? Watch the full interview now!

Isabelle Droll - CIO at TUI - Data, Diversity, and Destinations

Watch the full #LeadershipDeepDive interview with John Walsh - VP & CTO at Fujitsu - who will be our panellist at CIONEXT | The End of IT Leadership on the 3rd of April! It’s high time to register 👉 www.cionext.com/21 and join us for the discussion on three key shifts that are driving the transformation of IT and CIO’s roles in an organisation:
1️⃣ Democratisation
2️⃣ IT as strategic partner 
3️⃣ Human-centricity 

In this episode, Hendrik Deckers discusses with John Walsh why the CIO role is more critical than ever, how AI is evolving at lightning speed, and why shorter, results-driven IT projects are replacing long-term contracts. John shared insights on Fujitsu’s groundbreaking work in Quantum Computing and Social Digital Twins - a technology that could revolutionize smart cities and transport systems!

Is it possible to  stay ahead of rapid AI innovations? How is technology shaping the future of IT leadership? Watch the full interview to find out!

John Walsh - VP & CTO at Fujitsu - CIO Evolution: From IT Leader to Business Strategist

Are you ready for CIONEXT | The End of IT Leadership? Watch the full #LeadershipDeepDive interview with Aaron Stafford - Group Senior Director of Global Security, Cloud Infrastructure & ERP Operations at ASICS Technology - who will be our panellist on April 3rd at 15:00 CET. Don’t forget to register 👉 www.cionext.com/21! 

In this episode, Hendrik Deckers discusses with Aaron how ASICS is much more than a sportswear brand - it’s a fully digital company at the forefront of innovation.

Aaron emphasizes that digital leadership has fundamentally evolved from being a back-office function to a strategic business driver. He argues that IT is no longer just a support function but an integral part of the core business strategy, especially in a company like ASICS, where technology enables everything from product design and manufacturing to sales and customer engagement. That’s why Digital Leaders must think like CEOs more than ever - understanding business strategy, customer needs, and industry dynamics.

How can IT empower the business by providing safe, flexible environments where teams can experiment, innovate, and iterate? Is it possible to democratize access to data while maintaining strict security standards? Watch the full interview to find out!

Aaron Stafford - Group Senior Director at ASICS Technology - Why IT Leaders Must Think Like CEOs

CIONEXT is just around the corner! Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to get to know one of our panellists – Tom Tanghe, General Manager ITC EMEA at Daikin Europe – and watch his full #LeadershipDeepDive interview. Have you already registered to join us on April 3rd at 15:00 CET? Now’s the time 👉 www.cionext.com/21!

In this episode, Hendrik Deckers discusses with Tom how IT is becoming a core business enabler rather than just a support function, and shares his practical and business-focused vision: creating value, staying close to the field, and avoiding rigid long-term plans.

Tom stresses the need for IT leaders to understand the business deeply, and for business leaders to become more tech-literate. Looking ahead, he sees CIOs needing to balance long-term strategic roadmaps with agile responsiveness to user feedback and shifting priorities - what he calls operating at "two speeds." The CIO role, in his view, is increasingly about orchestrating this collaboration, enabling innovation, and ensuring that technology serves both operational excellence and business transformation.

Curious about the tech aspects? Watch the full interview to find out about predictive sales tools and the 23 initiatives that harness the power of AI, the status of cloud adoption, and why low-code/no-code is addressed with a healthy dose of skepticism at Daikin!

Tom Tanghe - General Manager ITC EMEA at Daikin Europe - Reinventing the CIO Role

Watch the full #LeadershipDeepDive interview with José Antonio López - Group CIO at TOUS - who will be our panellist at CIONEXT | The End of IT Leadership on the 3rd of April! 

It’s high time to register 👉 www.cionext.com/21 and join us for the discussion on three key shifts that are driving the transformation of IT and CIO’s roles in an organisation:
1️⃣ Democratisation
2️⃣ IT as strategic partner 
3️⃣ Human-centricity 

In this episode, Hendrik Deckers discusses with José Antonio López, Group CIO of TOUS, how the role of IT leadership is evolving in a fast-paced, digital-first world. They explore the CIO’s shift from operational control to strategic business enablement, the company’s digital transformation journey, and how technologies like AI, cloud, and data are driving innovation at TOUS. José also shares his personal leadership style, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring tech leaders.

José Antonio López, Group CIO at TOUS - Jewels, Data & AI: Inside the Digital Transformation of TOUS

#CIONEXT | The End of IT Leadership? is around the corner! Watch the full #LeadershipDeepDive interview with Sharon Prior who will be our panellist on April 3rd at 15:00 CET. Don’t forget to register 👉 www.cionext.com/21! 

In this episode, Hendrik Deckers discusses with Sharon how today’s CIOs must act as strategic business enablers rather than just technical experts. The traditional IT silo has given way to "fusion teams" — cross-functional groups where IT and business co-create solutions. Sharon highlights that the modern CIO must prioritize business outcomes, such as revenue growth and customer experience, over technology itself.

She advocates for enterprise architecture and long-term roadmapping as essential foundations for agile and continuous delivery. A strong proponent of data governance, Sharon warns against fragmented data ownership and insists that business functions—not IT—must be accountable for the quality and clarity of their own data. Sharon also underscores the importance of education and governance in the AI era. She encourages building AI governance boards and setting clear guardrails to empower business users while maintaining control. 

What skills are essential for modern IT leaders? How can IT leaders balance long-term strategy with agile delivery in a fast-paced tech landscape? Watch the full interview to find out!

Sharon Prior - CIO in transition - How Great Tech Leadership Begins with Business Thinking

CIONET is the leading community of senior digital and IT executives around the world. With a membership of CIOs, CDOs, CTOs and IT leaders from the world’s leading companies, CIONET has the expertise and pioneering vision to solve or address any digital or IT management challenge. CIONET develops, manages and moderates a global community and next-generation platform with an integrated array of both offline and online tools and services designed to provide real-time support for digital and IT executives.

Steven Huels - VP & GM of AI Business at Red Hat - Harnessing AI for Enterprise Growth

CIONET

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