Oxy's CIO on Cloud-Driven Efficiency

Yanni Charalambous, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Oxy
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Episode Summary

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Yanni Charalambous explore the modern approach to factory automation through software-defined factories. Yanni shares insights on leveraging cloud technology, integrating digital twins for improved efficiency, and establishing their low-carbon ventures business unit. He highlights the challenges of cloud adoption, the significance of innovative technologies like carbon capture, and the vital role of strategic partnerships in driving innovation and modernization.

  • Episode Key Takeaways

    Episode Key Takeaways

    • Forge visionary partnerships: Collaborate with vendors and partners who align with and support your innovative vision. This alignment can streamline the adoption of new technologies and processes.

    • Pinpoint a transformational cloud project: Identify a high-impact project that can justify your move to the cloud. This project should enhance capabilities and agility, helping to build a solid business case for cloud adoption and drive organizational change.

    • Prioritize skill transformation: Focus on transforming your team’s skills to align with new technologies. Investing in their growth and development ensures faster, more efficient project execution and enhances their marketability.

  • About Yanni

    About Yanni

    Yanni Charalambous is Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Oxy (Occidental Petroleum Corporation). He is responsible for Information Technology (IT, Cyber Security, Data Management and Advanced Analytics. In this role, he leads all aspects of the company’s global IT strategy and operations, cyber security, operations technology, information management, business systems and process engineering, data management and advanced analytics. He joined Oxy in 2002 leading a systems and workflow transformation program, then transitioned into roles leading systems and platform organizations in information technology and managing major acquisition and divestiture programs before becoming the CIO. In 2015, Yanni was awarded the Global CIO Breakaway Leaders award, and in 2021, Yanni was awarded The Stevie® American Business Gold Award for Leadership in Operations and Business Resilience.

  • Top Quotes

    Top Quotes

    “Just the fact that you move to the cloud doesn't mean much to them unless you engage them from a data perspective. And show them how data now will unlock opportunities that otherwise are not there or they're extremely difficult to make happen.”

    “I would advise anyone who hasn't yet embraced or engaged in this type of transformation to spend a lot of time engaging the people and making sure they understand the value proposition—what’s in it for them—in executing this. Along with finding that transformational project that inside the company that will really drive value and be visible as a value delivery.”