About the Chief Automation Officer
Stewardship over quiet systems that keep momentum steady and outcomes clear.
Core responsibilities
The CAO sets cadence, standards, and flow across programmes. The focus is simple: reduce toil, raise outcome quality, and make delivery predictable.
Key areas of focus
- •Strategy and governance
- •Delivery cadence and standards
- •Service platforms and integration
- •Value measurement and evidence
- •Change and adoption
- •Cross-functional leadership
Related executive roles
Clear swim lanes; strong partnerships.
Chief Digital Officer (CDO)
Drives digital transformation. CAO partners to ensure flow and evidence.
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Owns IT strategy and platforms. CAO focuses on workflow and outcomes.
Head of Automation/Robotics
Leads delivery units. CAO sets direction, cadence, and standards.
Chief Innovation Officer (CINO)
Explores new value. CAO ensures repeatable delivery at scale.
Skills and qualifications
Technical Skills
- •Agentic systems, RPA, service platforms
- •Process mapping and optimization
- •Data analysis and metrics tracking
- •Integration architecture knowledge
- •Technical project management
- •Security and compliance understanding
Business Skills
- •Strategic planning and execution
- •Change management expertise
- •Stakeholder management
- •Business case development
- •Team leadership and development
- •Budget and resource management
Impact and value
A successful CAO makes flow visible across the organisation:
- •Reduced toil and fewer handoffs
- •Higher outcome quality and consistency
- •Predictable delivery and steadier cadence
- •Improved compliance and risk posture
- •Happier teams focused on meaningful work
- •Clear evidence of value over time
Start the conversation
Quiet systems. Clear outcomes. Measured cadence.