HotTopics Names Thomas Prommer Global CIO 2026

NEW YORK, June 22, 2026. Thomas Prommer has been named HotTopics Global CIO 2026, a peer-nominated, independently judged recognition of the world's most influential digital and technology leaders. Prommer is a technology executive who works by a plain motto: "Building Technology. Chasing Finish Lines."

"Being recognized by your peers, the people doing this work in the field alongside you, is the measure that matters. Enterprise technology and AI strategy leadership is a team sport. This recognition reflects the teams I've had the privilege to build, consult, and advise with." Thomas Prommer

Prommer has more than 20 years leading digital transformation for Fortune 500 companies. He has run engineering organizations of 1,000+ people across global retail and sportswear brands, with responsibility for platform engineering, AI strategy, and data science. As President of Huge Inc., he led digital transformation for clients including McDonald's, Google, Apple, and Toyota, built a 200-person nearshore engineering operation in 18 months, and managed engagements worth more than $10 million.

Today Prommer works as an AI strategy consultant and fractional CIO and CTO, helping companies raise their AI maturity and turn strategy into systems that ship. He publishes that work through We The Flywheel and the AI Strategy Guide. He co-founded Flywheel Motion, named a 2026 Fast Company World Changing Idea, and created CTAIO, a media brand for technology and AI leaders with a newsletter and a podcast.

The recognition lands the same month as another. Last week the Fast Company World Changing Ideas Awards recognized Flywheel Motion, which Prommer co-founded with Andi Cross. Ceremonies for the Global CIO 2026 run in Nashville in October 2026, Amsterdam in November, and London in December.

---

What the Global CIO 2026 is

The HotTopics Global CIO 2026 is produced by HotTopics, an intelligence platform for the C-suite technology community. Each year it names the most influential digital, technology, and AI leaders in the world: the CIOs, CTOs, and CDOs who set technology direction inside large organizations. Honorees are chosen by peer nomination and independent editorial review, not by self-submission or paid entry. That makes selection a read on standing among practitioners rather than a placement you can buy. HotTopics revealed the 2026 honorees on June 22, 2026.

A chief information officer owns a company's technology strategy and its IT budget. The role used to point inward. Today it also runs the customer-facing digital experience, the apps and platforms the business makes its money on. Prommer has worked at that scope on both sides. As Chief Information Officer at Sweetgreen, he built the technology function and the digital ordering platform that now drives most of the company's revenue. As Global SVP Engineering at Adidas, he pulled fragmented regional teams into one engineering organization behind a $9B+ e-commerce operation across 50 markets.

About Thomas Prommer

Thomas Prommer is a technology executive with more than 20 years leading digital transformation for Fortune 500 companies. He currently runs engineering organizations of 1,000+ people across multiple countries for global retail and sportswear brands, covering platform engineering, AI strategy, and data science. As President of Huge Inc., he led digital transformation for clients including McDonald's, Google, Apple, and Toyota, managed $10M+ engagements, and built a 200-person nearshore engineering operation in 18 months. He co-founded Flywheel Motion and created CTAIO, a media brand for technology and AI leaders. He is also an Ironman triathlete, HYROX competitor, and sub-3:20 marathoner, and he brings the same data-driven discipline to the start line that he brings to the org chart.

More at prommer.net/en/tech. "A hybrid athlete in the C-suite, training for Ironman, HYROX, and the marathon the same way he builds AI strategy: by the numbers."

Media contact: [email protected]