The CEO’s Take: Chong Win Lee on Why CIOs Are the New Architects of Innovation

Chong Win Lee, CEO Asia Pacific, Logicalis

As organisations across Asia Pacific double down on digital transformation, CIOs are emerging as key strategic leaders in driving innovation, growth, and resilience. In a wide-ranging interview with CIO World Asia, Chong Win Lee, CEO Asia Pacific at Logicalis, shares his perspectives on the evolving role of the CIO, how businesses can get real value from AI and cybersecurity investments, and the defining trends that will shape the future of the APAC digital economy.

CIOs in the Driver’s Seat

According to the Logicalis CIO Report 2025, CIOs across Asia Pacific are stepping into more prominent strategic roles, with many now directly influencing revenue, customer experience, and boardroom decisions. For Chong Win Lee, this is more than a shift—it’s a transformation in leadership culture.

“CIOs in APAC are driving business strategy and outcomes. That’s reshaping Logicalis’s role and my own leadership approach,” he explains. “Our focus is on helping CIOs manage complexity, deliver results quickly and meet growing board expectations.”

The Asia Pacific region’s diversity—spanning digitally mature markets like Singapore and Australia to rapidly transforming economies like Vietnam and the Philippines—amplifies this complexity. Yet Chong Win believes a common thread unites CIOs across the region: urgency.

“All are under pressure to move fast.”

CIOs must lead with agility, resilience, and an enterprise-wide mindset, often navigating talent shortages, compliance requirements, and infrastructure gaps—all while delivering innovation at scale.

Technology as a Revenue Engine

A striking 96% of CIOs in the region now view technology as a driver of new revenue streams, not just an operational enabler. Chong Win sees this as a defining shift that repositions IT from a cost centre to a growth engine.

“We help CIOs use AI-driven insights and strategic guidance to accelerate returns, avoid unproductive experimentation, and turn these shifts into scalable, revenue-driving opportunities,” he explains.

This requires CIOs to balance experimentation with strategic intent. Logicalis works with enterprises through consultative engagements, offering AI-driven insights while helping CIOs prioritise quick wins and avoid dead-end pilots.

The message is clear: Digital success now means thinking commercially about IT—not just how systems run, but how they help businesses grow.

Getting ROI from AI: Start Small, Think Big

In the fast-evolving landscape of AI, CIOs across APAC are under growing pressure to prove the return on investment (ROI). A report from Logicalis reveals that 87% of IT leaders in the region are struggling to demonstrate tangible ROI from their AI initiatives.

Chong Win Lee, CEO of Logicalis Asia Pacific, suggests a pragmatic approach: “Start small with focused, high-impact use cases. Quick wins build momentum,” he advises. “There should be very specific metrics, whether quantitative or qualitative, for any AI project. These should help provide clear and targeted improvements and be well-defined as part of the criteria as to whether or not to invest in the project.”

Despite the urgency, many APAC companies still view AI as an isolated initiative, rather than a fully integrated capability. To ensure long-term success, Chong Win stresses the importance of aligning AI projects with business objectives from the very beginning.

This clarity can be the difference between meaningful transformation and endless experimentation.

Bridging the Cybersecurity Gap

Despite unprecedented cybersecurity investment, nearly every APAC organisation Logicalis surveyed experienced a breach in the past year. The core issue, Chong Win argues, is fragmentation—not funding.

“Security tools have often been added in isolation, creating blind spots and complexity. That’s why breaches persist.”

Logicalis is helping organisations shift toward integrated security architectures, combining threat intelligence, monitoring, and response across platforms. With AI-powered attacks growing more frequent—and quantum-enabled threats on the horizon—proactive, adaptive cybersecurity is no longer optional.

He adds that many APAC organisations remain vulnerable due to skill shortages and inconsistent threat response processes. “Zero trust,” once a buzzword, is fast becoming a baseline. CIOs must ensure not only tool consolidation but staff readiness and strategic visibility across hybrid environments.

Technology for a Greener Future

Sustainability is rising fast on the CIO agenda. A full 96% of APAC organisations are now investing in Sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern—it’s now a core focus for CIOs across APAC. With 96% of organisations investing in green technologies, the real challenge lies in translating these investments into measurable, impactful actions.

“CIOs are being asked to report on digital emissions, so accurate data and smart workload decisions are essential,” says Chong Win. “Sustainability has become a competitive differentiator in tenders, making visibility and action key.”

Disruption Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

Looking to 2026 and beyond, Chong Win identifies several key technologies that will be crucial in shaping the future of APAC business models. From agentic AI and quantum computing to edge computing and spatial computing, the pace of technological transformation is accelerating.

“AI, including agentic AI and related cyber threats, quantum computing, edge computing, and real-time platforms are transforming how businesses scale and adapt. Yet many still struggle to manage performance due to data complexity. That’s where observability is critical. AI-driven security measures are now equally vital, with attacks using AI becoming as common as traditional phishing threats. Businesses that adopt integrated AI and security platforms strategically will outperform those stuck with outdated tools,” Chong Win explains.

He also highlights the increasing role of mixed reality and spatial computing user interfaces, which are set to become mainstream tools for communication and collaboration in the years ahead.

Advice for the Next Generation

Reflecting on his journey, Chong Win shares a message for young professionals entering the ICT and digital services space:

“It is important for CIOs to be able to form their own opinions and exercise sound judgment. Further, it is important to maintain a positive attitude, fuelled by not only IQ but emotional intelligence too. With intense competition, mental resilience will be a distinguishing soft skill”

As the digital economy expands, it’s not just technical skills but mindset and adaptability that will set the next generation of leaders apart.