CIO vs CTO: What’s the Difference?
It is easy to assume that a Chief Information Officer (CIO) is the same thing as a Chief Technology Officer (CTO). However, there are important differences from the point of view of a mid-market CEO.
Read on to learn about both job titles and their functions.
CIO vs CTO: What’s the Difference?
Is a Chief Information Officer (CIO) the same as a Chief Technology Officer (CTO)? A plain-English explanation of both job titles and their functions.
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Although there isn’t universal agreement on the difference, one way of thinking about it is that the CIO is more internal-facing, while CTOs are more external.
CIOs take ownership of internal processes — the day-to-day technology, the systems and devices. A CIO also facilitates collaboration between the C-suite, IT teams, and other stakeholders. A CIO speaks the language of technology and the language of business.
Of course, a CTO must communicate between techies and businesspeople. But they have a strategic function, developing the technology initiatives that will drive growth and value. For example, they will oversee the development of custom software and apps.
Is CIO higher than a CTO?
In organizations with both a CIO and CTO, the CIO is normally senior. But the positions should be complementary, especially if a business is looking to grow. And while there will of course be overlap in terms of skillsets, they are two different positions, with different career paths.