One of the eye-opening takeaways that emerge through Brainstorm’s ongoing CIO profiles is the sheer v ariety of journeys behind the role. When first predicted and coined in the early ‘80s, it was correctly assumed a CIO would become crucial as technology and business areas merged. Yet even with that in mind, it’s astounding how much the different histories of CIOs vary.

Case in point: Jamie Whittaker, CIO of Systems of Engagement at Discovery. As with many current CIOs, Whittaker never had a technology career in mind when he started his studies, joking that other than playing the video game Quake, he never got close to a computer in his school years. But whereas the majority of CIOs had some level of technical education in mind – maths, auditing and so on – Whittaker wanted to be a writer and earned a B.A. in philosophy and English literature.