"If you report to the top and have a seat at the table, you have a much better perspective of what it takes to be a CEO," says Andrews. "You have a broader view of the business and an opportunity to collaborate at his or her level. If you are reporting to the CFO, you are one layer removed from where the action is and you need to make a change."
Be sure you want the job. "While the CIO role does have similarities to the CEO role, the CEO role is a major step up in terms of scale, pressure, constituency influence, time commitment and external visibility," says Andrews. "You don't want to make the leap before you're ready." If you quake at the thought of having your every move -- your acquisitions, sales forecasts, hirings and firings -- scrutinized by shareholders, the government, Wall Street and the public, you may want to think again about vying for the role.
Martha Heller is managing director of the IT Leadership Practice at ZRG, an executive recruiting firm in Boston.
Join the CIO New Zealand group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.