Vincent Turgis is highlighting how quickly technology leadership has changed, arguing that today's CIO must be much more than the person responsible for keeping IT systems running.

 In a recent Deloitte interview, the Global Chief Information Officer at WSA, Vincent Turgis, discussed digital transformation, artificial intelligence, business strategy and the growing challenges facing technology leaders.

From IT Manager To Business Partner

Looking back on his career, Turgis says that the CIO role has gone through a fundamental shift. In the late 1990s, IT was seen as a separate function, focused mainly on infrastructure and technology.

Turgis put it simply, saying, “It’s about partnering with the business to stimulate improvement, efficiencies and innovation through the use of technology.”

He believes successful CIOs increasingly need to have technology and business knowledge. The former is arguably essential, but having an understanding of how a business works is equally important.

AI Brings Opportunities – And Plenty of Hype

Turgis is also seeing the current AI boom with a level of caution. Having lived through the internet bubble of the late 1990s, he sees parallels with today’s market.

While not every AI company or idea will survive, businesses cannot afford to ignore the technology. His approach is to be selective about what they pursue, focusing on initiatives that will really have value to the business and not simply fall for the latest trend.

Governance is key – companies need to be sure that the technology they invest in will deliver the benefits promised when the project was approved.

AI Already Has a Role in Hearing Care

At WSA, AI is not just a possibility for the future. Turgis cites hearing technologies that make use of AI to process sounds in real time and improve intelligibility in difficult situations.

He also talks about cloud-based fitting software, which can provide hearing-care professionals with the latest tools and enable hearing aids to be programmed according to a lifestyle and listening environment.

The CIO Challenge Ahead

The future holds more integration between IT, products and the business, according to Turgis. At the same time, healthcare technology has to deal with complex privacy, regulatory and data storage requirements.

Legacy systems are also a challenge – businesses still run on older ERPs and disconnected data platforms, slowing down transformation.

Business Fortune reports Turgis’ belief that AI could eventually help break down some of these barriers – but speed is balanced with caution.

FAQs

Who is Vincent Turgis?

Vincent Turgis is Global Chief Information Officer at WSA and an expert in technology and business transformation.

What did Vincent Turgis discuss with Deloitte?

The conversation focused on the CIO role, AI, digital transformation, governance, healthcare technology and data regulation.

How does Turgis view AI?

He sees real opportunities in AI, but warns that companies need to be careful not to confuse hype with real business benefits.

What does Turgis believe makes a successful CIO?

He stresses the importance of a CIO having a good understanding of both technology and business processes, as well as being able to link the two together effectively.

How is WSA using AI?

WSA is using AI in hearing-aid technologies and exploring its potential in cloud-based hearing-aid fitting and data-driven improvements.