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Taylor Culver
Apr 2025
The Chief Data Officer title isn’t going away—but its traditional definition is. This post explores how the CDO role is evolving from governance and tooling into a strategic, value-driving executive function—and what data leaders must do to stay relevant in the age of AI and product-driven transformation.
The short answer? Not exactly. But it is evolving—fast.
If you look at traditional Chief Data Officer roles from the last decade, many were born out of necessity: compliance, governance, MDM cleanups, data warehouse consolidation. Those things still matter, but they’re no longer enough to justify a C-level seat.
What we’re seeing now isn’t the death of the CDO. It’s the death of the narrow CDO.
Focused on policy, stewardship, and tooling
Often siloed from product, tech, and strategy
Measured on maturity models, not impact
These CDOs were necessary, but they weren’t always seen as business-critical. And in some orgs, that made them expendable.
Fluent in business and tech
Embedded in product and go-to-market decisions
Driving value through data products, AI, and org transformation
This isn’t just semantics. It’s a redefinition of the role’s purpose.
Only if it refuses to evolve.
The CDOs who stay locked in governance and tooling will struggle to remain relevant. The ones who embrace strategy, execution, and outcomes will not only survive—they’ll lead.
In some orgs, these leaders are still called CDOs. In others, they’re becoming Chief Product/Data Officers, Chief AI Officers, or simply trusted executive operators.
Whatever the title, the mission remains: Help the business use data to win.
That mission isn’t dying. It’s just growing up.
