About the role
Job Title: Chief Innovation Officer (CInO)
Role Summary
The Chief Innovation Officer is responsible for driving enterprise-wide innovation, identifying new growth opportunities, and fostering a culture of experimentation. This role leads the development of new products, services, business models, and partnerships to ensure long-term competitiveness and market differentiation.
Key Responsibilities
1. Innovation Strategy & Vision
Define and execute the organization's innovation strategy aligned with business goals
Identify emerging trends, technologies, and market disruptions
Advise executive leadership on future growth opportunities
2. New Product & Business Model Development
Lead ideation, incubation, and scaling of new products, services, and ventures
Explore new revenue streams, including digital and platform-based models
Drive concept validation through pilots, MVPs, and rapid experimentation
3. Innovation Programs & Labs
Establish and manage innovation labs, accelerators, and incubators
Implement structured innovation frameworks (design thinking, lean startup)
Run hackathons, innovation challenges, and internal idea programs
4. Emerging Technology & Partnerships
Evaluate and adopt emerging technologies (AI, blockchain, IoT, etc.)
Build partnerships with startups, universities, and technology providers
Lead corporate venture and open innovation initiatives
5. Culture & Change Management
Foster a culture of innovation, agility, and experimentation
Promote cross-functional collaboration and idea sharing
Drive organizational change toward a growth and innovation mindset
6. Portfolio Management & Governance
Manage innovation portfolio, prioritization, and funding allocation
Track KPIs such as ROI, time-to-market, and innovation pipeline health
Ensure alignment with enterprise strategy and risk frameworks
7. Commercialization & Scaling
Transition successful pilots into scalable business solutions
Work with product, technology, and business teams to operationalize innovations
Measure and communicate business impact of innovation initiatives
Qualifications & Experience
Bachelor's degree in Business, Technology, Engineering, or related field (MBA preferred)
15–20+ years of experience in innovation, strategy, product, or technology leadership
Proven track record of launching new products or business models
Experience working with startups, ecosystems, or venture initiatives
Strong understanding of digital technologies and market trends
Key Competencies
Strategic and forward-thinking mindset
Creativity and problem-solving ability
Strong business and commercial acumen
Leadership and influence across functions
Ability to drive change and cultural transformation
Typical Reporting Line
Reports to: CEO / Chief Strategy Officer
Direct reports: Heads of Innovation Labs, Venture/Partnerships, New Product Development
Originally posted on Himalayas