I've just recently joined Corinium Intelligence - a company which has made great strides in promoting the rise (and tribulations) of the Chief Data Officer globally. Through our CDO Forums we give CDOs and would-be CDOs a platform to discuss this burgeoning role. A role that is fraught with obstacles but that, once understood and assigned, can add so much value to an organisation. Our research and participation in this arena shows that:

• CDOs are most prevalent in the US - no surprise there since they are typically world leaders in such things
• The UK and Europe lag behind the US in terms of number of CDOs - again, no real surprise as that is how the evolution rolls out globally
• Australia and SE Asia are seeing a rise in the number of CDOs but it's still a very small community - surprise? Not really. Following the logical order of things
• South Africa...has 2 CDOs as far as LinkedIn has made me aware - unsurprising, we're late adopters

So, my task really is to understand why South African companies haven't embraced the CDO. Our banks, retailers, mines etc. are world-class organisations with just as much data as similar companies in Australia or the UK.

This week was really the first of many in a journey of discovery not only for myself and Corinium but for the South African CDO. I hope that, if you're interested, you'll follow us as we develop a community that will support the development of this business-critical role.

Our events are only as good as our understanding of the information requirements of the market. The majority of this will be uncovered through interviews but there's a lot to be gained from LinkedIn discussions amongst people in the industry. Please be vocal - use this as an opportunity to give your opinion on who should own data within a company and what challenges they face.

My next post will share some of the early insights I have gained through research. I think they'll interest you and as a teaser...the issues in the South Africa arena are not far off those faced in other markets.

By Craig Steward:

Craig Steward is the Content Director for Corinium’s CDO and CAO Forums in Africa. His research is uncovering the challenges and opportunities that exist for CDOs and CAOs and the Forums will bring the market together to map the way forward for these important roles. For more information contact Craig on craig.steward@coriniumintelligence.com

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