Change in the wind for CIOs

The CIO's job is definitely changing. Hardly a week can go by without us hearing about another line of responsibility being added, either formally or informally, to the position. In the latest move, more companies are adding business services to the CIO's list of responsibilities. While this may be a smart addition, how much work can one executive do without letting the ball drop in other areas? For example, Fidelity, the largest mutual fund company in the United States, tapped Marvin Adams, CIO at Citigroup, as the new president of its shared services organization. He will report to the company's president, Rodger Lawson.

"Marvin Adams is a leader who has wide-ranging experience in technology and operations both within and outside of financial services," said Lawson. "As our business relies more and more upon robust technology solutions coupled with efficient operations, Marv's background suits him ideally to help us take the greatest possible advantage of our market-leading capabilities in these areas."

Are these kind of hiring trends part of a new wave of adding layer upon layer to a CIO's portfolio or is it time to change the definition and meaning of a CIO? Is a CIO a dinosaur or a tiger? -Judi