The IT outsider may be the best hire

Justin Kershaw, VP of IT for Eaton's Fluid Power Group,writes in InformationWeek that many business technology executives tend to choose traditional IT people to fill critical roles, often overlooking talent from other company sectors like engineering, finance, manufacturing, or sales.

"Great leaders need to be talent hawks, seeking internal talent just as doggedly as external hires," Kershaw said. "Some of the best people you want on your biggest, toughest, and most important efforts are right under your nose--in another function." Kershaw recommends partnering with HR leaders and other functional heads to seek out IT opportunities for top employees from within your company. He said he is convinced that giving potential company leaders IT roles will create better general managers down the road with broader perspectives that will help the company prosper.

To read more:
- see this InformationWeek.com article