Chief Technical Officer (CTO)
The CTO defines and implements a company's technology strategy. He or she oversees innovation and the deployment of new solutions to optimise operations and stimulate growth.
The Chief Technical Officer (CTO) is responsible for innovation and the deployment of new technologies within a company. As well as developing and overseeing information system technology projects, he or she defines the overall technology strategy, in line with the company's business objectives and evolving needs.
The CTO manages a multidisciplinary team of IT professionals (developers, systems architects, engineers) to bring these large-scale projects to fruition. Working closely with the other members of the management committee, the CTO influences strategic decisions and ensures that technologies are integrated into the company's various activities.
The CTO is proficient in the programming languages, software and frameworks required for IT projects to run smoothly, as well as in New Information and Communication Technologies ( NICT ). He or she has experience in the use of technology in companies and in IT research and development. An expert in cross-functional project management, the CTO has mastered the Agile, Scream and Lean methods.
He or she has legal skills in e-commerce law and regulations (RGPD). Finally, a good level of English is necessary to understand technical documentation and communicate with customers and partners.
The Technical Director must have the charisma and leadership skills to motivate and direct his team, while also being an excellent communicator capable of conveying technical concepts to non-technical people. He or she needs to be organised and rigorous in order to manage projects and teams. The CTO must have a pronounced taste for challenge and strong resistance to pressure: he or she is often confronted with complex situations requiring rapid solutions.
Curious by nature, they keep abreast of the latest technological innovations. Finally, they need to be responsive, good at interpersonal relations, and a good listener and empath to maintain a good team dynamic and respond quickly to the company's needs.
To become a CTO, you need to have a 5-year higher education qualification in IT, such as an engineering degree or a master's degree in IT. In addition to academic training, experience in development and IT project management is essential.
Future CTOs start their careers as developers, systems administrators or devOps, before moving up to tech lead or project manager positions. In France, 10 to 20 years' experience is required to reach this level of responsibility.
A CTO can move into similar positions, but with a larger team, or in a different business sector, which enables him or her to increase the diversity of his or her skills. They may also consider roles such as Chief Information Officer (CIO) or Chief Innovation Officer. These positions will enable them to continue to influence the company's technology strategy at a higher level.
Some CTOs choose to move into general management positions such as CEO ( Chief Executive Officer ) or COO ( Chief Operating Officer ), moving away from technical operations to take a more global view of the company. Others may become Chief Information Officer (CIO) or Chief Digital Officer (CDO), broadening their scope beyond pure technology.
Working as an independent consultant is another option. In this way, CTOs can share their expertise with different companies and support them in their digital transformation.