About

The CIO's challenge has flipped. It's no longer about earning a voice in business strategy. It's about maintaining authority as everyone else becomes a technologist.

Transformation has permeated every business function, and now department leaders have views on the best technology choices for their needs. Teams and even individuals make buying decisions which expand the digital estate, yet the responsibility to look after the whole estate and keep it secure is still down to the CIO whilst their influence and control might be contracting.

This session brings business and IT leadership into the same room for an honest conversation: What do business leaders actually need from their CIO in 2026? Who should really own digital transformation and technology choices? And how does the CIO lead when influence matters more than hierarchy?

Join us for a discussion that challenges assumptions on all sides – because if we can't agree on what IT leadership means now, we certainly can't shape what it should be next.

Speakers and Panellists

Find out more about the speakers and our panellists

Craig Walker

Chairman | Moderator

CIONET UK

Craig graduated in the summer of 1981 from the University of Surrey with a BSc.

Hons in Chemical Engineering. He joined Shell as an IT programmer in London.

Over the next 17 years, his career in IT management progressed and saw him spend

10 years as an expatriate in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Colombia.

In 1998, he moved to KPMG as an Associates Partner to learn about other

industries, cultures, and ways of working. In 2005, after what he describes as the

best 6-year training course Shell let him go on, he returned in 2005 to Shell as CIO

for the African Downstream businesses based in Cape Town. After 3 years he

became Global CIO of Shell Trading and Shipping based in Houston, Texas and

then, in 2014, became Global CIO of Shell Downstream based in London.

He is a high energy leader who has spent most of his career leading large-scale

digital transformations. As Global CIO of Shell Downstream business, his team

delivered billions of dollars of savings and value, created new ways of working,

enabled faster business strategy realisation and ultimately reduced the IT budget by

45%, creating more reliable and secure solutions, and delivering the next generation

of transformative technology. While these global transformations were technology

driven, they were highly business focused. His success can be attributed to

recognising the complexities of large-scale change and including all the key

stakeholders in business and IT to ensure a level of buy-in and energy such that they

were able to fundamentally transform the businesses.

He retired from Shell in 2020, and joined Salesforce as an SVP, Strategic Advisor to

the office of the CEO, where he worked with c-suite to help them refine and deliver

their business strategy. He advised hundreds of customers, building strong

relationships and helping drive transformational change through bringing technology and people together.

He has now retired for a second time and is now busier than ever having teamed up

with five ex-KPMG colleagues, who have a lifetime of experience, knowledge and a

track record of success, to create Veles Consulting which has the tag line “Our

Experience, Your Success”. There are delivering a range of services including

Strategic Business Advice, NED/Virtual Board Services, Company Review,

Leadership Development and Transformational programmes. He is enjoying working again with old friends and colleagues.

He also chairs the Institute of Coding, which is dedicated to delivering free technical

skills learning to disadvantaged people in the UK, as well as participating on several

advisory and executive boards.

He has a passion for business, developing people, enjoying his family, travelling,

good food and wine, and life.

Jon Wrennall

Chairman of Unzer & Portfolio NED/Advisor

Unzer

A renowned thought leader in the technology & professional services sector, Jon has over 30 years’ experience in the industry and is currently:

Chair of Unzer, a German fintech payment solutions leader processing €19bn+ in transactions (integrating 13 previous acquisitions);
Non-Exec-Director at Team.blue, which provides digital services via 60+ brands to 3.5m businesses across 22 countries growing both organically and via an active M&A program.

Jon’s board roles are preceded by nearly 20 years as a CTO for a number of companies including:

- Corsearch (Global Trademark and Brand Protection) where he led the transformation through integration of 7 acquisitions and driving future platform strategy (including Data and AI).

- OneAdvanced, where he drove innovation, leading the Product and Engineering teams (of circa 750 people) to deliver 100+ products and services. Jon created the product and technology strategy and transformational change that resulted in increasing enterprise value from £725m in 2015 to a £2bn exit in 2019, integrating 9 acquisitions

- HMRC’s first CTO, leading the integration of the former Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise organisations driving savings of over £650m, as well as bringing about significant technology transformation, building high performing teams in the process.

Explore the program

Program

Registrations for this event will close on 28th January 2026.

16 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EG

           
          18:00 
        
                Welcome Networking Reception 
        
          19:00 
        
                Warm Welcome
        
          19:45 
        
                Panel discussion with distinguished leaders and Q&A
        
          20:45 
        
                Drinks reception, desert & cheese
        
          21:30 
        
                Carriages

Venue

Located in the heart of the City of London, 16 Old Bailey is just steps from St Paul’s Cathedral and offers easy access via Blackfriars, St Paul’s, and City Thameslink stations. Perfect for corporate events and networking, the venue combines central convenience with the historic charm of London’s legal district.

16 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EG

Who Owns the Future? The CIO's Authority Crisis.

About

Speakers and Panellists

Program

Registrations for this event will close on 28th January 2026.

Venue

Partners

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Elevate Your CIONET Experience!

Who Owns the Future? The CIO's Authority Crisis.

About

Speakers and Panellists

Craig Walker

Craig Walker

Jon Wrennall

Jon Wrennall

Rohan Hewavisenti

Rohan Hewavisenti

Jess Bradley

Jess Bradley

John Watton

John Watton

Program

Registrations for this event will close on 28th January 2026.

Venue

Partners

Not a CIONET member yet?

Follow us