Who Should Lead Enterprise Digital Transformation? Roles, Responsibilities, and Challenges

Digital transformation is not about technology or data alone; the decisive factor is "people"—the entire team and organization.

The author identifies the key leadership roles required for transformation, emphasizing that the most suitable leader varies by stage and project, and may include the CEO, CDO, CFO, CMO, CIO, or CTO.

Three maturity stages are described: the informationization stage (building reliable IT platforms), the overlapping informationization‑digitalization stage (enhancing automation and exploring innovation), and the full digitalization stage (enabling business model innovation and growth).

While many assume the CEO should drive transformation, the article argues that the CEO’s lack of technical depth often limits effectiveness, and that senior executives with specific expertise—such as a CDO for data strategy or a CIO/CTO for technology execution—can be more appropriate.

The CDO role, emerging in many Chinese enterprises since 2021, focuses on data‑driven strategy and business innovation, whereas the CIO traditionally ensures IT value but may lack authority over broader business changes.

Business‑oriented leaders like the CFO (for finance‑centric projects) and the CMO (for digital marketing initiatives) can also lead transformation when the project aligns with their domain.

Choosing the right leader involves timing: transformation often succeeds when senior leaders face strong business pressure or when they recognize clear value from digital initiatives.

Ultimately, the article stresses that digital transformation is a continuous, iterative process requiring coordinated effort across multiple leaders, and that aligning authority, expertise, and organizational support is essential for success.