Spotlight on Simon Niven, Global CIO, ED&F Man Commodities

I am a senior Technology leader in Commodities Trading. With over 35 years of experience in technology leadership and management, I am passionate about delivering technology-driven change that creates value and impact for the business. My strengths are in technology strategy and delivery, governance, technology transformation and innovation. 

Learn more about the UK & Ireland CIO community here.
 

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

I spent the first part of my career working on the vendor side for various technology consultancies / systems integrators where I developed a solid grounding in commercial project delivery. I then moved to a senior leadership role in an international law firm, leading large business change programmes, creating new strategies and maturing the IT function, providing a great foundation for my current role.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

Be authentic. Authentic leadership matters because it builds trust and credibility. When leaders are genuine and transparent, people feel respected and confident in their direction, leading to stronger relationships, higher engagement, and better performance.

What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CIO?

Focus more on building your relationships than on managing the technology – your team will do that. Focus on business outcomes, rather than how you get there. Give your team the space and cover they need to create an environment for success.
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

Ultimately, I think your success is measured by the success of the business of which you are part. Another measure is whether you grew the people in your team and helped them become successful.
 

What is the value of being a member of Gartner C-level Communities?

Connecting with technology leaders from different industries and backgrounds, I've found that many people have similar issues, and have learnt from other people's approaches.
 

Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.