Francesca Porta
EMEA CIO & Global Head of IT Strategy
Autogrill
With more than 20 years of technology experience, Francesca has been helping companies grow their technological capabilities with keen insight and creative ideas. During her career, she started as a consultant and then evolved through corporate roles. Francesca has led complex transformations leveraging on technology, helping modernise companies and ways of working in the Retail and F&B industry.
Francesca is currently in charge of the ICT Department in Autogrill Europe, defining the IT Strategy, being responsible for modernisation and innovation of the company IT landscape, granting IT operations and business continuity for more than 650 shops in Europe.
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Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
After several years in IT consulting, I joined Autogrill where I have been working on international IT projects in Europe, from digital innovation to application modernisation, journey to cloud, and cybersecurity. I have a strong expertise in the Retail and F&B industry, and I am currently leading the digital transformation of the company.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
Transparency and clear communication with team members and colleagues are a must!
With disruption being a key theme of recent years, where do you see the CIO role going in the next 1-2 years?
Technology will be more and more outside the IT department, and the CIO has to transform and evolve from technology operations to orchestrator of digital innovation and architect of the data-driven company.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a CIO?
Spend time to deeply know the business and put yourself in other C-level shoes to look at IT from their perspective.
Tell us a few fun facts about yourself.
- I am travel addicted.
- I always have a book with me.
- I am passionate about diversity and inclusion.
What is the value of joining an Evanta community?
Connection with peers, sharing of knowledge and experiences.
Evanta Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
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