In 2025, it is crucial for any organisation looking to create a data-driven governance framework to have a person dedicated to managing the data strategy, i.e. the Chief Data Officer.

Indeed, the surge in data volumes and compliance needs, as well as the importance of enhancing data value, make this role essential for any large company. This applies to companies of all sizes, whether they have a few or a thousand employees.

In this article, you will learn why this role dedicated to data governance is inevitable, by tracing its origins and exploring its responsibilities.

Introducing the Chief Data Officer: Turning Data into a Strategic Asset

The position of Chief Data Officer first appeared in major companies with thousands of employees. His main task is to make the data generated by the organisation a strategic asset, which will help to inform future business decisions.

This role differs significantly from other senior management positions, such as Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The CIO is responsible for managing the company’s information systems and infrastructure, while the CTO oversees the design, development and deployment of technology solutions.

Driving Trust and Collaboration: The Role of the Chief Data Officer

Within the organisation, the CDO is responsible for designing the data governance framework. Taking the enterprise's technical specifics into account, he or she establishes the company's policies, roles and responsibilities over data management.

Additionally, he ensures the reliability of the data by organising the setup of the tools used for data lineage and the data catalogue. This is because data only has value when it is trustworthy and actually used.

He works closely with the Data Protection Officer to ensure that the data is in accordance with existing legislation. Furthermore, the CDO is ultimately responsible for safeguarding the integrity of the data from online common cyber threats.

Beyond this, he fosters a data community within the organisation. For example, he shares best practice in data governance with business and IT teams. He encourages accountability in the management and use of data.

By doing this, he helps to build a shared data culture, breaking down the barriers between departments and domains, and encouraging common goals and collective engagement throughout the organisation. Finally, he establishes a connection between the business and IT teams.

From Challenges to Opportunities: The Future of the Chief Data Officer

As with any strategic role, the CDO’s mission isn’t without challenges, particularly when overcoming resistance to change.

The CDO may also encounter infrastructure-related difficulties, such as organisational silos, which can make it challenging to implement a data governance framework. A lack of support from top management or the executive committee is another common challenge.

To delve deeper, the CDO may encounter complications when measuring the ROI (return on investment) of data governance. Above all, the CDO must strike a balance between innovation and compliance in data initiatives.

In the future, the role of the CDO may become more strategic and value-oriented, as companies increasingly recognise the necessity of establishing a data governance framework. Furthermore, companies now consider that data goes beyond mere collection; it must also create value by reducing costs, for example.

The recent surge in AI and automation has emphasised the importance of having a robust data strategy in place, since AI cannot operate without high-quality, well-governed data.

We are already seeing this, but we may gradually move towards a fusion of the roles of data and AI officers.