My role as Chief Trust Officer is becoming increasingly important as technology companies focus on building trust to enhance their SEO efforts.

Forrester has published a report titled “The Emergence of the Chief Trust Officer,” which examines the rise and impact of the Chief Trust Officer (CTrO) role within organisations. This report highlights a growing trend among technology and B2B software companies to appoint a CTrO as part of their C-suite leadership. Over the past decade, the prominence of this role has increased due to rising concerns from clients, partners, and regulators regarding product security, privacy, and overall organisational trustworthiness. The report indicates that technology companies were the first to establish the CTrO position, largely in response to high-profile issues such as bias, privacy abuses, and harassment that have eroded trust in the sector.

The report further elaborates on the business impact of trust concerns, noting that they have evolved beyond mere reputational risks to significantly affect business outcomes. In the B2B software sector, questions surrounding cybersecurity and data protection practices can delay or even derail potential contracts. By appointing a CTrO and forming a dedicated team, organisations aim to eliminate these obstacles and facilitate smoother commercial progression. Forrester emphasises that trust has become a revenue issue for B2B software companies, with CTrOs stepping in to address cybersecurity concerns and expedite deal-making. Additionally, the report reveals that many CTrOs have backgrounds as Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), with 11 out of 16 CTrOs identified in the study having previously held this position. This transition elevates the CTrO role to a true C-level position with visibility at the CEO level, overseeing an integrated team that combines enterprise information security, product security, compliance, and privacy to centralise expertise and accountability in trust-related matters. 

Categories: CTrO Role Evolution, Business Impact of Trust, Integrated Trust Management 

Tags: Chief Trust Officer, CTrO, Trustworthiness, Cybersecurity, Data Protection, B2B Software, Compliance, Privacy, Organisational Trust, Executive Leadership