For decades, technology leadership was often measured by infrastructure. The most successful information technology executives were those who could keep systems running, manage complex networks, protect sensitive information, and ensure organizations remained operational in an increasingly digital world. While those responsibilities remain critical, the role of technology leaders has fundamentally changed. Today’s most influential technology executives are not simply managing systems. They are shaping corporate strategy, driving innovation, guiding artificial intelligence initiatives, transforming customer experiences, and helping define the future direction of entire organizations.
That evolution is precisely what the newly established Next CIO Award seeks to recognize.
Created by CIO.com and Foundry, the 2026 Next CIO Award introduces a new national platform dedicated to identifying the emerging technology leaders who are expected to become the next generation of chief information officers, chief technology officers, chief digital officers, and enterprise transformation executives. The inaugural class of honorees represents some of the most promising technology minds in America, professionals who are already making measurable impacts inside major corporations, healthcare systems, government agencies, financial institutions, and global organizations.
For New Jersey, where technology, healthcare, finance, logistics, telecommunications, and life sciences continue to converge at an accelerating pace, the launch of this recognition program arrives at a particularly important moment. The Garden State is increasingly becoming a proving ground for digital transformation, artificial intelligence adoption, cybersecurity innovation, enterprise software development, and data-driven business leadership.
The emergence of the Next CIO Award reflects a larger shift taking place throughout the business world. Organizations no longer view technology as a support function operating behind the scenes. Technology now influences nearly every strategic decision, from revenue growth and customer engagement to operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness.
As a result, the profile of successful technology leaders has changed dramatically.
Modern executives must be able to translate technical complexity into business opportunity. They must understand artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, automation, and data management while simultaneously communicating with boards of directors, investors, customers, regulators, and employees. The most effective leaders are no longer defined solely by technical expertise. They are defined by their ability to connect technology initiatives directly to organizational outcomes.
The Next CIO Award was designed specifically to recognize those qualities.
2026 Next CIO Award, as officially announced on June 15, 2026 by CIO.com, includes:
- Collin Campbell – Cushman & Wakefield
- Rob Ewing – The Hartford
- Oliver Galicki – Memorial Hermann Health System
- Amyn Gillani – Academy Sports + Outdoors
- Trista Huang – Blackstone Real Estate – Hotels and Resorts
- Jerry Imsand – Tennessee Dept. of Finance & Administration Strategic Technology Solutions
- Kari Johnson – City of Scottsdale, Arizona
- Erik Langhans – The Hartford
- David O’Brien – Covenant Health
- Peter Robinson – Avnet
- Ajit Singh – The Friedkin Group, Inc.
- Tipu Swaran – Paalam Labs
- Igor Valentim – IDB Invest
- Kerry Wang – Aetna, a CVS Health Company
These leaders will be formally recognized at the upcoming CIO 100 Awards & Conference from August 17–19, 2026.
Rather than honoring companies, the program focuses on individuals whose careers demonstrate exceptional leadership potential and measurable impact. Candidates are evaluated not only on innovation and technical achievement but also on their ability to influence business strategy, manage enterprise-wide transformation efforts, and prepare organizations for future challenges.
The inaugural class of fourteen honorees illustrates the broad range of industries being reshaped by technology leadership.
Representatives from healthcare organizations, financial institutions, commercial real estate firms, government agencies, investment organizations, insurance providers, retail enterprises, and technology-driven corporations are among the first recipients. Their collective work spans data analytics, artificial intelligence, governance, digital transformation, operational modernization, cybersecurity, cloud adoption, and strategic innovation.
Among the honorees is Kerry Wang of Aetna, a CVS Health company with significant New Jersey connections through one of the nation’s largest healthcare organizations. The recognition highlights the increasingly important role that healthcare technology leaders play in improving patient experiences, managing complex data environments, advancing predictive analytics, and integrating artificial intelligence into clinical and administrative operations.
Healthcare continues to represent one of New Jersey’s most important economic sectors, making technology leadership in this field especially significant. As hospitals, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and research institutions adopt more advanced digital systems, executives capable of navigating both healthcare and technology challenges are becoming essential.
The broader list of winners demonstrates how technology leadership now extends into nearly every aspect of modern business. Whether managing digital transformation initiatives within major insurance companies, guiding data strategies for global investment organizations, or modernizing public-sector technology systems, these executives are helping shape how organizations compete in an increasingly digital economy.
What makes the Next CIO program particularly noteworthy is that it is designed as more than a one-time recognition.
Unlike traditional awards that conclude after a ceremony, the initiative functions as a leadership development ecosystem. Honorees gain access to mentorship opportunities, executive coaching, peer collaboration networks, and strategic learning experiences intended to accelerate their progression into senior technology leadership roles.
This approach reflects a growing recognition that technology leadership pipelines require intentional development.
The challenges facing future CIOs, CTOs, and CDOs are more complex than ever before. Artificial intelligence governance, cybersecurity threats, data privacy regulations, workforce transformation, cloud modernization, and digital ethics all require leaders capable of balancing innovation with responsibility. The executives recognized through programs like Next CIO are being prepared to navigate those challenges while guiding organizations through unprecedented change.
For New Jersey businesses, the implications are substantial.
The state has emerged as one of the nation’s most diverse economic ecosystems. Global pharmaceutical firms, healthcare organizations, financial institutions, logistics companies, telecommunications providers, manufacturers, and technology startups all operate within New Jersey’s borders. As these industries continue integrating advanced technologies into daily operations, demand for transformational technology leadership will only increase.
Artificial intelligence, in particular, is accelerating this shift.
Organizations throughout New Jersey are investing heavily in machine learning, predictive analytics, automation, and intelligent decision-making systems. Success in these initiatives depends not simply on technology deployment but on leadership capable of aligning innovation with business priorities. The future CIO is no longer expected to oversee technology implementation alone. They are expected to shape enterprise strategy itself.
The launch of the Next CIO Award arrives as companies across the nation confront a rapidly changing technology landscape. Digital transformation initiatives that once unfolded over years are now being compressed into months. Customer expectations continue evolving. Competitive pressures are intensifying. Regulatory environments are becoming more complex. In response, organizations are looking for leaders who can navigate uncertainty while maintaining a clear vision for growth.
That need is particularly evident throughout the Northeast corridor, where technology adoption continues accelerating across industries. New Jersey’s strategic location, highly educated workforce, world-class universities, and concentration of major corporate headquarters position the state as an important contributor to this next generation of leadership.
The recognition of executives through the inaugural Next CIO program serves as a reminder that innovation is not driven solely by software platforms, data centers, or emerging technologies. It is driven by people. The ability to guide organizations through transformation, inspire teams, build consensus, manage risk, and create long-term value remains one of the most important leadership skills in business.
As the inaugural class prepares to be honored at the upcoming CIO 100 Awards and Conference, the program’s significance extends beyond individual achievement. It represents an acknowledgment that technology leadership has become one of the defining disciplines of modern business.
For New Jersey, where technology continues to influence everything from healthcare and finance to transportation, logistics, and life sciences, that message resonates strongly. The future of innovation will depend not only on breakthrough technologies but also on the leaders capable of harnessing those technologies to create meaningful impact.
The Next CIO Award shines a spotlight on those future leaders. It recognizes individuals who are already helping shape the digital future and provides a glimpse into the executives who may soon guide some of the world’s most influential organizations. As technology becomes increasingly central to economic growth, competitiveness, and innovation, programs like this offer valuable insight into where business leadership is heading next—and why the next generation of technology visionaries will play an essential role in defining that future.
