One in three UK businesses has a digital executive

More than a third of the largest companies in the UK now have a digital executive whose sole task is to pull a competitive advantage from digital transformation efforts. With a 35 percent adoption rate, it is much higher than the global average of 19 percent. This is according to a new report by Strategy&, PwC’s strategy consulting business.

All around the world, however, businesses are realizing the potential of having a dedicated digital executive. Two years ago, only six percent of companies have had a digital leader hired.

The report, based on an analysis of the top 2,500 public companies around the world, including 120 in the UK, says the UK still lags behind France and Germany. In France 62 percent of companies have a digital leader, and in Germany that figure stands at 39 percent.

The good news is that companies in the EU are hiring digital execs faster than other companies globally.

In the UK, digital leaders are less likely to be of tech background, and more likely to be from marketing, sales or customer service. Just 10 percent are female (compared to 16 percent globally), and none sit on the Executive Board.

"We’ve seen a significant increase in companies around the world appointing digital leaders in the last year across all industries. Whilst there was some hype around this role as it emerged, many companies are beginning to realize the benefits of having a digital leader in place and it’s a position that is likely here to stay," says Martin Roets, Strategy& director.

"It’s notable that fewer digital leaders in the UK have technology backgrounds than in other geographies. It seems that the role here is increasingly expected to focus on shaping digital propositions for customers, rather than focusing primarily on the technical delivery challenges."

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Future plc Publication. All rights reserved.

Photo Credit: EmiliaUngur/Shutterstock