Dubai: Research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) has formed a Technology Advisory Council with the fundamental aim of enabling a new wave of IT development across the region.

The main role of the advisory council is to be the voice of the CIO and CxO [C-level executives across the board like CIO, CEO, CFO, etc] community in the Gulf.

“The Council’s members will draw on their rich experience to assist upcoming IT talent through mentoring sessions, while also heading key development programs that recognise breakthrough performances in the field of information technology,” said Jyoti Lalchandani, vice-president and regional managing director at IDC Middle East, Africa, and Turkey.

He said the Council will provide a far-reaching source of thought leadership on issues relating to strategic planning, R&D, and technology innovation.

It will form part of the largest and most influential social network of CIOs, IT leaders, and technology decision makers in the Middle East. It will also provide a neutral platform for the wider CIO community to network with their peers, share best practices, and keep up to date with the very latest industry trends.

Ahmad M. Al Almulla, vice-president of information technology at Dubai Aluminium (Dubal), said with the growth that has been taking place in this region and the changes we have gone through, it is a wise decision to form a council to share the best practices among different verticals.