Building a New CIO Cabinet I CIO Talk Network

An M&A situation can be a strategic opportunity for an IT leader to build a new IT organization. While some people will end up leaving, a new IT leader will emerge, either from one of the companies involved or from outside. How does this CIO of the new combined company go about putting together his new “cabinet” of advisors and right hand men? In this episode, William G. (Bill) Halnon (CIO & SVP, Republic Services) and James M. Spitze (Executive Director, Fisher CIO Leadership Program, UC Berkeley Haas) join host Sanjog Aul to share practical playbooks for post-merger integration: when and how IT enters due diligence, what really matters in selecting the CIO, how to design an effective leadership cabinet across two organizations, and how to protect customer experience while executing fast, objective decisions. Key Takeaways IT’s role in due diligence and integration planning How to select a CIO and avoid “two CIO” traps Building an effective leadership cabinet across two orgs Protecting customer experience during turbulence Making fast, objective leadership choices Topics Covered 00:00 Intro & framing 02:16 IT’s seat in M&A due diligence 05:23 Cultural fit & human capital 08:04 Choosing the CIO & executive structure 14:10 Designing the IT cabinet 20:22 When to trigger integration work 21:55 Customer experience continuity 26:37 PMO & communication strategies 30:47 Interviewing widely to surface hidden talent 38:56 Try-before-you-buy vs. decisive selection 41:24 Correcting mistakes quickly Prefer a different format? Vimeo: (https://vimeo.com/1198025166/1df544f1...) Full episode page & transcript: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/buildi... About CTN: CIO Talk Network (CTN) is a global, peer-led platform where enterprise business and technology leaders think out loud without pitch or fluff. Hosted by Sanjog Aul, CTN delivers authentic, experience-driven insights that challenge conventional thinking. Official Website: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com Connect with us on: LinkedIn:   / cio-talk-radio   X:   / ciotalknetwork   Facebook:   / ciotalknetwork   Apple Podcast: https://www.ciotalknetwork.com/apple/ Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful discussions.