New Deloitte Survey Shows Tech Execs Driving Growth, Shaping Strategy, and Eyeing the CEO Seat

New York, November 13, 2025
Key takeaways | Download Survey Insights - Wave 2

1. Tech execs are stepping into the strategy seat
   80% say their roles have significantly expanded to meet business objectives, and more than a third now manage a P&L.
2. Perception drives performance
   Organizations that view their tech function as a revenue generator—rather than a service center—are more growth-oriented and more likely to empower tech leaders to lead AI.
3. CIOs move closer to CEOs
   65% of CIOs now report directly to the CEO, highlighting a growing trust in, and recognition of, CIOs as enterprise leaders, not just IT experts.
4. CIOs are aiming high—and enduring
   67% of CIOs aspire to be CEO, and 92% of tech leaders agree the CIO role is here to stay.

Why this matters
Deloitte’s CIO Program today unveiled the second wave of findings from its Tech Exec Survey, revealing how the tech C-suite is redefining enterprise value and reporting lines. The findings underscore technology’s rise as a core growth driver and cast today’s tech executive as a strategic leader driving revenue. Notably, 80% of the more than 600 US tech leaders say their roles and responsibilities have greatly expanded to meet business objectives.

Explore Insights from 2025 Tech Exec Survey - Wave 1

Key quote

—  Lou DiLorenzo Jr., Technology, AI, and Data Strategy Practice leader, Deloitte

Survey breakdown

Leaders Run Organizations Differently When Tech is Viewed as a Growth Engine

When asked how their executive leadership perceives the tech function, respondents were almost evenly split: 52% say their tech org is viewed as a revenue generator and 48% say they’re primarily considered a service center. Yet, a notable gap emerges when comparing perceptions at larger enterprises ($5B+ in revenue) and mid-sized companies ($1B-$4.9B). Two-thirds of executives at large enterprises view tech as a revenue driver compared to less than half at mid-sized organizations.

When tech is seen as a growth engine vs. a service center, leaders often run the function differently—and it shows in priorities and accountability. Here’s how approaches compare, respectively:

• They are more focused on growth, prioritizing expanding into new markets (35% vs. 29%) and attracting and retaining customers (34% vs. 30%).
• They are the primary leaders implementing GenAI across the organization (42% vs. 36%).
• They are more likely to report to the CEO (49% vs. 46%) and say their reporting structure greatly helps them deliver business outcomes through technology (63% vs. 59%)
• They are more likely to agree the scope of their current role as a technology leader is clear and well-defined (56% vs. 49%)  

CIOs Move Closer to the CEO and Chart a Path to the Corner Office

As technology increasingly becomes a primary growth engine, reporting lines continue to change along with leadership aspirations. Today, 65% of CIOs report directly to the CEO, a substantial increase from just 41% a decade ago. This reporting relationship is a critical enabler, with two-thirds (66%) of CIOs who report directly to a CEO saying it better positions them to help drive business strategy and results.

This direct access to the executive leadership team and expanded mandate—consider that 36% of CIOs now report managing a P&L—may be fueling significant career ambitions within the CIO ranks. The survey found that 67% of CIOs say they’d like to pursue a CEO role in the future, making CIOs the most ambitious among all tech leaders surveyed. Only 41% of CTOs, 42% of Chief Data & Analytics Officers Chief Data & Analytics Officers, and 55% of CISOs see CEO as a future aspiration. Peers who believe CIOs are well-suited for the top job say it’s due to their:

• Proven leadership and management skills (39%)
• Ability to drive innovation and growth (37%)
• Track record of building high-performing teams (37%)  

CIOs’ enterprise-wide remit is also evident through the makeup of their teams. CIOs reporting to the CEO are leading broad, integrated teams with direct reports that include CTOs (34%), Chief Digital Officers (34%), CISOs (15%), and CDAOs (13%). And despite periodic predictions to the contrary, the CIO role is likely not going anywhere: 92% of tech leaders believe the role will still exist in five years thanks to CIOs’ crucial abilities to manage cybersecurity strategies, lead transformational change, and leverage emerging technologies to drive business value. 

Key Quote 

— Anjali Shaikh, CIO and CDAO Programs U.S Leader

Methodology

We conducted an online survey among 622 U.S.-based senior technology leaders from March 7 to April 1, 2025. Participants were screened based on title, company size, company revenue, and responsibility for setting the strategic direction of technology within their organization.