As AI investment accelerates and digital transformation intensifies, CIOs and tech leaders face growing pressure to turn innovation into measurable business impact − without increasing risk.
Experis surveyed 1,930 C-suite technology leaders across 12 countries, including over 150 from the UK, to uncover the key priorities, challenges and actions defining the modern CIO agenda.
Cyber security is keeping more than half of Britain’s tech leaders awake at night
UK organisations are more concerned about cyber threats than any other market globally with more than half (56%) of UK CIOs, CTOs and CISOs ranking cyber security as their number one concern – the highest level recorded across all 12 countries surveyed in the latest Experis CIO report.
Rhona Carmichael, Managing Director, Experis UK, said:“Cyber risk is no longer hypothetical – it has become a very real threat for UK businesses. Recent high-profile incidents have shown just how quickly an attack can move beyond IT systems into the heart of operations – affecting services, supply chains and customers almost instantly, often with prolonged recovery periods. That has changed the conversation. It’s no longer about ‘if’; meaning cyber security has shifted from a technical priority to a core business need.”
The pace of change is the leading barrier
29% of UK tech leaders cite keeping up with rapid technological change as their top business challenge, broadly unchanged from 30% in 2025.
Business and IT alignment is a high CIO priority
39% of UK IT leaders now view aligning IT strategy with business objectives as the most important CIO responsibility, up from 30% in 2025
AI optimism is tempered by realism
62% of UK tech leaders say their AI investments are already generating positive ROI, yet only 21% rank delivering AI solutions as a top CIO responsibility. Download your free copy to learn how UK leaders are aligning IT and business strategy, proving AI ROI and building the capabilities needed to keep pace with change.
