Chief Technology Officer

About the Company:

Our client is a global media and communications group headquartered in Dubai with offices overseas. The organisation brings together several high-performing brands in out-of-home, digital, and creative media – powered by data and technology.

The group is entering an exciting phase of international expansion and is investing heavily in its technology foundations to enable scalability, data-driven decision-making, and innovation over the next years.

Role Overview:

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) will lead the company’s Data, AI, and IT divisions, setting the strategic direction and building the foundations for long-term growth.

This is both a strategic and hands-on leadership role suited to an experienced IT professional with a strong commercial mindset – someone who can define what the next years of technology should look like, shape the roadmap, and build the teams and governance needed to achieve it.

The CTO will have full autonomy to grow the function, establish new divisions, and embed technology at the heart of the organisation’s success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategy & Roadmap: Define and implement a five-year technology roadmap covering IT infrastructure, data, AI, and digital enablement.
• Leadership: Build and lead the Data, AI, and IT teams, establishing a structure that supports scalability, governance, and performance.
• Infrastructure: Design a future-ready IT environment that supports global operations and sustainable business growth.
• Data & AI Enablement: Establish robust data governance and analytics frameworks to drive insights and operational excellence.
• Governance & Compliance: Ensure compliance with international standards, including GDPR and global data privacy requirements.
• Innovation: Identify and adopt emerging technologies that enhance efficiency, automation, and data intelligence.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, translating technology strategy into business outcomes.
• Culture & Collaboration: Promote a collaborative, transparent, and innovation-driven culture across all teams.

Experience & Qualifications:

• 12+ years in senior IT or technology leadership roles, ideally within media, digital, or high-growth environments.
• Proven success in establishing or transforming IT, Data, and AI functions from early maturity to global scale.
• Broad understanding of infrastructure, data governance, cybersecurity, and cloud ecosystems.
• Experience developing long-term technology roadmaps and delivering strategic business change.
• Deep knowledge of GDPR and data compliance for international operations.
• Hands-on, adaptable leader capable of balancing strategy with practical execution.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills – must be personable and culturally aware.
• Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field; postgraduate or MBA preferred.

Culture Fit

The ideal candidate will be:

• Visionary, able to set a clear long-term direction for technology.
• Personable and collaborative, thriving in a relationship-driven culture.
• Entrepreneurial, motivated by growth and the opportunity to build from the ground up.
• Balanced, combining commercial awareness with deep technical understanding.

Salt is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.