Global CIO Hosted International Conference on Key CIO Challenges for 2026
On February 12, 2026, Global CIO hosted the online international conference “Key Challenges for CIOs in 2026.” The event brought together experienced IT leaders from different regions and industries to discuss today’s most important topics — including AI strategy, cybersecurity, talent management, and the changing role of the CIO.
The conference was moderated by Jean‑Pierre Auffret, President of the International Academy of CIO and Director at the Center for Assurance Research & Engineering at George Mason University. He led an engaging panel discussion focused on four key themes: Strategy, Global and Local approaches, Information Security, and Talent Management.
Panel speakers included:
- Yuosof Radi, Head of Information Technology at Alkhabeer Capital, with more than 25 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity. He has led IT teams in aviation and logistics, and for the past two years has worked in fintech, gaining strong experience in digital transformation under strict regulatory requirements.
- Sumit Duttagupta, Group CIO at Haldia Petrochemicals, with over 30 years of experience in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. His expertise includes SAP, production optimization, AI analytics for industrial operations, and OT/IT integration with ERP systems.
- Meheriar Patel, Group CTO at Master Group, with 25 years of experience across retail, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and logistics. His focus is on technology transformation and digitalization in B2C sectors.
- Harvinder Singh Banga, Group Chief Digital Officer, Movers International Group. He has over 20 years of experience in the logistics industry, where he has led top organizations, and specializes in AI strategy in environments where legacy systems coexist with modern technologies, as well as in developing corporate GenAI policies.
Key discussion topics
The panel explored four strategic areas that are critical for CIOs in 2026:
Strategy — Showing the business value of IT beyond traditional metrics, moving from a service provider role to a business enabler, and improving communication with the C-suite.
Global and Local — Balancing global technologies with local regulations, addressing data sovereignty requirements, and designing architectures that support compliance.
Information Security — Preparing effective response plans for security incidents, building realistic disaster recovery capabilities, and understanding the wider business impact of cyber events.
Talent Management — Competing for talent with major tech companies, using remote and distributed teams, and finding new ways to attract and retain skilled professionals.
Artificial intelligence emerged as a central theme across all discussions. Speakers highlighted the importance of strong data infrastructure as the foundation for AI success, growing security risks such as prompt hijacking, and the shift of the CIO role from technology provider to strategic business partner.
The conference created an open and engaging dialogue among IT leaders facing similar challenges across industries and regions. Participants especially valued the practical insights and real-world experience shared by the speakers.
We thank Jean-Pierre Auffret for his excellent moderation and all panelists for openly sharing their expertise, challenges, and proven approaches. Conversations like these strengthen the global CIO community and help drive meaningful progress across the industry.
Video recordings and detailed session summaries will be available in the IT Leaders Club section — our private knowledge-sharing platform for IT leaders. For access or specific materials, please contact the Global CIO team.
Upcoming event
Join us on April 22, 2026, for our next conference focused on AI Implementation in Business, where we will explore practical use cases, ROI measurement, and real-world deployment strategies. Registration details will be announced soon.
We appreciate your continued engagement and look forward to seeing you at upcoming Global CIO events.