Executing a successful digital transformation is a challenging prospect , regardless of the scale of your enterprise or the complexity of its operations . Some digital transformations , however , are undoubtedly an even more delicate balancing act – between cost , complexity , sustainability , and scale – than others .

For Carlos Santos , Group Chief Information Officer at JG Summit Holdings , executing on the digital transformation goals of one of Southeast Asia ’ s biggest , most diverse conglomerates , represents a herculean endeavour . Santos , however , takes a brighter view of things . “ We have investments across the banking , real estate , airline , food and petrochemical manufacturing , retail , and digital media sectors . We touch the lives of almost every Filipino ,” he explains to me . “ Typically , if you ' re working for a largescale conglomerate , you ' re working in just one industry . At JG Summit , you ' re working across multiple business units in lots of different verticals . There are a lot of differences between the IT services at an airline compared to a retail organisation or a bank , so it ' s very exciting .”

Overseeing the IT operations for a multibillion dollar holdings conglomerate with assets in industries ranging from petrochemical manufacturing to retail and banking is , Santos admits , an exercise in managing complexity . “ It ' s very complex as well because there ' s no one-size-fits-all solution . You have to be adaptable ,” he says .

250 July 2021

Technology Magazine July 2021 | Page 252

Carlos Santos , Group CIO at JG Summit Holdings , talks digital transformation at scale , business-driven technology adoption , and partnering for success .

“JG Summit touches the lives of almost every Filipino ”