As GenAI moves from the hype cycle into everyday business operations, the role of the CIO is undergoing a fundamental shift. Far from being purely technical stewards, today’s CIOs are strategic leaders tasked with embedding intelligence across the enterprise. That’s the theme of Episode 1 of AI&Us Season 3, which puts the spotlight on the CIOs from AXA UK, Catella, and FLOA.
In just over three minutes, Natasha Davydova (CIO at AXA UK), Martin Johanson (CIO at Catella), and Stephane Doublait (CIO at FLOA) offer sharp, pragmatic insights into what GenAI means for their organizations — and what it demands of CIOs.
The CIO Role Is Evolving Fast
Ask today’s top tech leaders to define the role of the CIO, and you’ll hear a consistent theme: It’s no longer just about IT — it’s about leadership, agility, and transformation. Martin describes the CIO role as one of balance, Stephane highlights the need to be adaptable, and Natasha Davydova calls it transformative. She adds, “I’m looking forward to the time when CIOs become CEOs.”
Together, their perspectives reflect the multidimensional nature of the job — equal parts strategist, operator, and innovator.
How These CIOs Are Thinking About GenAI
If you're looking for hand-wavy AI analogies, look elsewhere. These leaders break it down clearly:
- Natasha compares GenAI to building with LEGO: “You use tiny pieces to create something new. AI does the same with words and images. It creates something new in completely new ways.”
- Martin describes it as “an intern” — great at producing a first draft, but in need of guidance and oversight.
- Stephane likens it to sending your kids to buy groceries for dinner without context. You’re hoping for gourmet — but you get mac and cheese.
These metaphors point to a shared truth: GenAI is only as effective as the guidance it receives. The CIO’s role is to define those goals, constraints, and standards — or risk unintended outcomes.
AI Projects That Matter: Beyond the Pilot Phase
Natasha shares a compelling before-and-after use case from AXA UK’s call centers. Customers often ask, “What does my policy cover?” Previously, it took agents five minutes to find the answer in complex documentation. With GenAI, that task now takes five seconds. That’s not a vague promise of productivity, it is quantifiable operational improvement at scale.
Stephane shared how FLOA is developing a voice assistant to improve customer support interactions — using natural language understanding to reduce resolution times and improve customer satisfaction. Catella is using GenAI to automate data extraction and generate meta reports for market valuations, increasing both speed and analytical depth.
The Data Trap: What to Leave Behind
All three CIOs are clear-eyed about what they want to avoid. For Martin, a major red flag is data hoarding — collecting information simply for the sake of it. “We must move away from piling up data in reports just to have reports.” This echoes a growing awareness that more data doesn’t equal better insights. Smart CIOs are shifting focus from volume to value — using AI to find meaningful patterns, not just build dashboards.
What Guides Their Teams?
What principles shape how these leaders approach their teams and technology? Each CIO offers a clear, grounded approach:
- Natasha draws on a Formula One metaphor: Prioritize collaboration, stay agile, and lead with emotional intelligence — the human elements that drive high-speed, high-performance execution.
- Stephane encourages his team to make space for innovation while also carving out bandwidth to industrialize and optimize existing methods.
- Martin is guided by one core principle: Simplicity first. “It’s very easy to get carried away. We try to keep it at a bare minimum and go from there. You add complexity when you see value.”
These aren’t abstract ideals, but rather operating models grounded in reality — the kind that help teams stay focused, aligned, and able to deliver amid fast-moving change.
Tech Is the Tool, Not the Goal
A consistent message runs through all three perspectives in the episode: CIOs can’t afford to wait.
Martin puts it bluntly: “You cannot just sit. This is happening now.” That sense of urgency isn’t about fear. It’s about opportunity and making sure your organization is prepared to capture it. Because GenAI isn’t a one-time deployment; it’s a constant evolution, particularly with the rise of agentic AI. The leaders who move early will be the ones who define how their industries adapt.
Natasha closes with an essential insight: “Technology is just the enabler. Don’t forget the human side of things.” It’s a reminder that AI isn’t the endpoint. It’s the means to better customer experiences, faster decisions, and more responsive organizations. The real challenge (and the real opportunity) lies in combining technical execution with human-centric leadership.