Do you need a CIO or do you need an IT director?

Despite the economic turmoil there's still life in the CIO recruitment market - although companies searching for a new tech chief may not always know exactly what they are looking for.

According to Tim Cook, executive director at executive recruitment company Russell Reynolds Associates, companies hunting for a new head of IT aren't always sure whether they want a CIO or an IT director.

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"I think that there's a big difference between a CIO and an IT director, and many people who are in fact IT directors have the job title of CIO. There's almost a job title inflation out there. Many of our clients initiate searches with us by saying they want a CIO but when we introduce them to a change-oriented, edgy business guy that happens to run a technology function, they sometimes go for the person who is more inwardly oriented on the IT function itself."

These are people who are by and large IT directors, said Cook, who do an outstanding job managing an IT function but are less comfortable challenging the business.

"IT guys are often in the IT function because they love being creative with technology, and solving problems. They have a natural predisposition to talk the language of technology and not that of business. Being an outstanding CIO implies an ability to run an IT function well, in addition to having a broad interest in the business and the communications skills to engage with executive board members."

This means the supply of CIOs is small whereas the supply of IT directors is much larger, he said: "The pool of IT directors lies mostly within the IT function itself, with other sources including the professional service firms. Too few CIOs come from within the business, and I believe to increase the pool of CIO candidates going forwards clients will need to look at candidates with a strong business background in addition to those from the IT function itself."

"A minority of senior IT people that we meet are capable of being CIOs, and it's because of these skills around communication. It's not a job title that makes you CIO - it's your behaviour," he added.

Cook said the CIO recruitment market is currently tending towards the conservative, with candidates being - understandably - cautious about making a move and companies planning to make new appointments reconsidering whether it is wise to hire when there is so much uncertainty.

But Cook told silicon.com: "It is a good time to approach people however, especially from sectors where there is much turmoil such as financial services. It has probably never been a better time to hire into the public sector!"

He said there is a lot of deal making going on too, with some CIOs and IT directors bringing forward capital purchases in the belief they can cut a better deal with suppliers - a trend highlighted by a recent silicon.com CIO Jury.

"CIOs are secure, providing their function is delivering. Even so, many CIOs are actively looking at ways of restructuring their organisations to save cost and improve efficiency," he added.