Chief Technology Officer - CTO

Whether a company is large or small, it could probably be said that, without a strong technology department, things would rapidly fall apart. And the leader of that cause is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Responsible for software, hardware, and online security, as well as research and development in technology companies, this important role usually reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The CTO has to keep current on all aspects of new software functions and hardware upgrades. This seems to change by the nanosecond. They constantly need to invest in new technology and do everything possible to prevent hacking and the stealing of company secrets.

Larger companies might have a Chief information Officer (CIO), as well as a CTO. A CIO would handle more of the day-to-day operations (it’s always nice when someone answers the phone at the Help Desk), while the CTO does more strategic planning and setting the general direction for both the long-and-short-term. The CTO might develop policies and procedures, come up with plans to improve customer service and increase revenue, and do return on investment analyses.

In a small technology company, the CTO might also be responsible for research and development. In a huge conglomerate such as Google or Facebook, the CTO role would be more strategic, with a focus on big data, analytics, and cloud computing. They also might be part of a team that decides which companies to acquire which would complement current product offerings.