International Data Corporation (IDC) has announced the details of its inaugural East Africa CIO Summit, scheduled for 17 June at the InterContinental Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
Focusing on the theme of Being a CIO in the New Business World of Tech+ Transformation, the event will explore the new types of challenges that CIOs are facing following the proliferation of what IDC refers to as the four pillars of technology: cloud, big data, mobility, and social media.
“The last five years have seen the emergence of a new era in computing,” says Onesmus Mbogo, country manager at IDC East Africa. “We call this new era the 3rd Platform. By harnessing the power of these key technology pillars, this unstoppable force is driving an evolution in the role of the CIO, transforming entire industries, and empowering customers in new ways.”
It is against this backdrop that IDC brings its flagship CIO Summit series to East Africa. Tailored specifically in terms of format, structure, style, and partnership opportunities, the IDC CIO Summit series has developed an enviable reputation for directly addressing the topics of most critical concern to senior ICT executives.
Separate events are now held each year for the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, West Africa, North Africa, and Turkey, and this latest addition will play host to around 100 of East Africa’s most influential C-level ICT managers. They will represent a diverse range of industries, including the public sector, banking and finance, retail, manufacturing, oil and gas, telecommunications, utilities, and construction.
The IDC East Africa CIO Summit 2014 will provide thought-provoking and actionable insights to CIOs and senior ICT executives via a unique blend of keynote addresses, plenary sessions, panel discussions, breakout tracks, real-life case studies, and in-depth Q&A sessions.
With the needs of the local market setting the agenda, technology heads will have the opportunity to hear about the latest global trends, learn from ICT best practices, and get involved in general discussions with colleagues and peers during dedicated networking breaks.
“The initial concept for the CIO Summit was first discussed back in 2007 as we identified a pressing need within the region for a truly vendor-neutral platform that enabled the exchange of ideas and best practices between the providers of cutting-edge technology solutions, the people responsible for implementing them, and the industry’s leading market analysts,” says Jyoti Lalchandani, IDC’s group VP and regional MD for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey.
“We have remained true to these ideals for each event since, and this has seen the reputation and influence of our CIO Summits grow exponentially over the intervening period. East Africa has always been important to IDC, and with increasing numbers of vendors now recognizing the significant scope of opportunity present in the region, we are delighted to bring the CIO Summit to its shores.”