Is it time to toss out the traditional job description that accompanies the title CIO? Most carriers remain leery of looking outside the IT organization for leadership, but CEOs have made it clear knowing the technology is just one part of the CIO's job description today. On the flip side, insurance companies have hired CIOs who have risen through the ranks of the legal department or marketing. These CIOs may not have grown up with technology, but they have focused on the idea technology is an enabler for the success of the enterprise. So, making assumptions regarding what it takes to be a CIO today is ill advised.

Alan Mercaldo, CIO of MAG Mutual, has seen the role of chief information officer expand beyond the realm of technology in his 14 years with the specialty lines carrier. "It's become more of a role dealing with the business side in terms of how to gain more productivities and efficiencies out of workflow and processes the business units have in place," he says. Mercaldo, who has been CIO for the last eight years, maintains his role is no longer implementing the nuts and bolts of hardware or a software system. "It's managing the efforts of new business processes, especially as they involve technology concerns," he says.

Michael Fergang, CIO of Grange Insurance, had been with the property/casualty carrier for five years before being named CIO in November, but he comes to the property/casualty insurance world with a background on Wall Street and a stint in the life/health world. "Having a financial perspective was in-valuable [to my career]," says Fergang. Still, he believes there are a great number of similarities. "Products are tweaked and distribution might be a bit different, but a lot of the principles around financial products are similar," he says.