What is a Chief Data Officer and what does a Chief Data Officer do?

Countries such as Spain, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada already include the role of Chief Data Officer (CDO) in the organizational structure of their respective governments. What exactly are the responsibilities of this professional profile? What does a Chief Data Officer do that has led governments around the world to incorporate them into their teams?

The internet and new technologies once led to the creation of true highways of information and communication that connect us all. In the wake of this digital revolution, new professional profiles have emerged to meet labor market needs, with Big Data being one of the fastest-growing areas. Within this field, one job position is gaining importance at lightning speed: the Chief Data Officer, the head of data. Numerous governments worldwide have decided to hire their own CDO, making it clear that this is a role to watch closely…

What is a Chief Data Officer?

The data manager is considered a key professional in large companies and organizations. What exactly is a Chief Data Officer? What are their responsibilities? The first question is answered by highlighting the importance of properly managing the data and information being generated. The CDO is responsible for ensuring the appropriate and optimal use of this material, with the aim of maximizing its value in relation to the challenges and objectives of the organization.

The Chief Data Officer (CDO) is an executive profile that is highly present in the boardrooms of large corporations. In fact, it is among the best-paid professions among the new job roles created in recent years thanks to technological advances and is one of the most sought-after by recruiters:

• The average salary is €86,250 (Glassdoor), and in financial and banking companies it can reach around €250,000 per year (Adecco).
• 90% of companies will have a Chief Data Officer by 2025 (according to consulting firm Gartner).

Regarding the second question, below we provide a more detailed explanation of the functions of a Chief Data Officer in the current economic and business landscape.

What are the responsibilities of a Chief Data Officer?

The work of a CDO involves managing a team of professionals specialized in handling information and data. Therefore, their first responsibility is coordinating a group of data analysts and related profiles.

1. Leading and coordinating a team of data analysis experts.
2. Filtering information from reports and documents produced by data analysts, among others, to identify valuable insights.
3. Establishing predictive models and strategies to achieve objectives and prevent potential risks.
4. Overseeing security in these processes, an area directly under the responsibility of the CDO.
5. Representing the team before company leadership and communicating relevant insights and findings.

The use of data must generate business value for the organization, making this a crucial role in today’s economy. The Chief Data Officer’s responsibilities therefore include managing and protecting the information generated and circulating within a company and/or its industry, acting as a conductor of an orchestra that includes data engineers, data analysts, and data scientists, among others.

What data does a CDO collect?

Given their role, once we define what a Chief Data Officer is and their responsibilities, it is important to understand the type of information they handle. The data received by the CDO and their team comes from countless sources and exists in many different formats:

• Data by file type: text, photos, audiovisual material, information obtained from the internet, user browsing activity, databases, etc.
• Data/information sources: studies, reports, media news, social networks and other digital platforms, surveys, feedback, opinions, and a long list of sources that generate data processed by the Chief Data Officer’s team.

Why is a Chief Data Officer important in a company?

More and more companies are choosing to include a CDO in their organizational structure. As mentioned earlier, Gartner estimates that by 2025, 90% of large companies will have this role on their staff. What do these professionals bring to organizations? Why is it important to have a Chief Data Officer?

1. They manage the most sensitive asset in any organization: internal information and data.
2. Alongside internal company data, they also handle external information, which is increasingly vast and important. Proper management and interpretation of both enable better decision-making and business growth.
3. Security and cybersecurity above all. The CDO is responsible for this critical area, which is essential for the survival and growth of companies.

These highly sought-after professionals are typically trained through very specialized programs. At EAE Barcelona, students and working professionals interested in developing a career as a Chief Data Officer can choose from two master’s degrees focused on this field. One is the Master in Big Data & Analytics, which explores the relationship between technology, information, and decision-making within organizations. Another option is the Global Master in Business Analytics and Data Strategy, which follows a hybrid methodology combining online learning with a residential period in Barcelona. It focuses on data strategy, technical development, and business analytics skills to interpret data and support strategic decision-making.

In both cases, students can access a profession with strong future prospects and high remuneration. CDOs are increasingly in demand and will become an essential role in any company in the future.