CDO Study 2026 - Data leadership at a turning pointData and AI leadership has reached a defining moment. Only two years after the first edition of this study helped establish the CDO role as a legitimate executive function, expectations have accelerated far beyond the initial mandate. What began as a role focused on building foundational data capabilities now sits at the intersection of strategic decision-making, AI-driven transformation and enterprise-wide accountability. The rise of GenAI has not simply added new demands; it has reshaped the scale, speed and visibility of the CDO’s agenda. The second edition of this study reflects this shift: we're no longer merely examining the traditional role of the CDO, rather we're observing how the role is evolving under the challenges and opportunities of AI.

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