MIT Sloan CIO Symposium Announces Finalists for 2026 Chief Information Officer Leadership Award

CIOs from Avnet, Bain, Mapfre, and U.S. Navy shortlisted for prestigious award

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium today announced the four finalists for the 19^th Annual MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award. For nearly two decades, the Award has recognized Chief Information Officers (CIOs) who lead their organizations to deliver exemplary levels of business value through innovative use of IT.

"Each year, the applicant pool gets more impressive. After careful evaluations of the many applications and a final decision by our group of past award honorees, we are proud to announce this year’s finalists,” said Dr. George Westerman, co-chair of the Award program. “Each is an exceptional CIO driving tangible business results while also being exemplary leaders.”

The 2026 MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award finalists are:

• Max Chan, Senior Vice President and Global Chief Information Officer, Avnet
• Ramesh Razdan, Global Chief Information Officer/Chief Technology Officer, Bain & Company
• Vanessa Escrivá García, Group Chief Information Officer, Mapfre
• Justin Fanelli, Chief Technology Officer, United States Department of the Navy

Judging Criteria

After three rounds of extensive review, a panel of judges that includes CIOs, industry thought leaders, and MIT Sloan-affiliated professionals, selected the Award finalists. Each exhibits the key traits of a CIO leader in the following areas:

• Exceptional Communicator – Articulates a vision for strategic business value from IT and works across the organization to build partnership around this vision. Focuses communications on value and innovation, not technology. Helps all IT staff to understand the business and speak the language of business leaders.
• Recognized IT Leader – Clearly demonstrates value-for-money in the management of core IT services – providing the right services at the right price and the right level of quality. Recognized among peers as an effective leader of the IT unit.
• Driver of Business Value – Understands the business and needs of the CEO, CFO, Line-of-Business heads and other senior executives. Ensures clear focus on potential and realized value in all IT initiatives. Incorporates IT into business decision-making by participating in key strategic conversations, suggesting innovative uses of IT, and for managing risk.
• CIO-Plus – Exercises authority beyond IT itself. Considered a trusted member of the senior executive team, not just a technology leader. Suggests innovative uses of IT to transform the business and successfully executes the changes. May receive additional non-IT responsibilities such as Chief Operating Officer or VP of Strategy, or strategic temporary roles such as Head of M&A integration.

Award finalists will be formally recognized during an exclusive dinner at the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium on May 18, 2026, where the winner will be announced. All finalists will have opportunities to share their insights on panels the next day, May 19, as part of the Symposium programming.

To register to attend the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium, taking place May 19, 2026, visit the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium site.

About the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium

The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium is the premier global conference for CIOs and digital business executives. CIOs, CDOs and senior IT executives explore enterprise technology innovations, business practices and receive actionable information that enables them to meet the challenges of today and the future. The Symposium offers a unique learning environment by bringing together the academic thought leadership of MIT with the in-the-trenches experience of leading global CIOs and industry experts. The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium is organized and developed by the MIT Sloan Boston Alumni Association. For more information and to register for this year’s Symposium, visit https://mitcio.com/ and engage with the Symposium on LinkedIn.