Most C-levels are unable to bring a strong background of analytics into strategic discussions. As data becomes more and more important for long-term success, a Chief Analytics Officer guarantees analytics to be embedded in the discussions at the highest level. The CAO or Chief Analytics Officer has strong skills in analytics but also owns the resulting top and bottom line numbers.
The CAO or Chief Analytics Officer reports to the CEO and differs from a CIO by focusing on the (applied) analytics rather than the infrastructure. The responsibilities of a CAO similarly differ from the responsibilities from a CDO (Chief Data Officer) as the latter covers the scope of getting data in shape for it to be utilized accurately across the business; a CAO is responsible for, and involved with, advanced business analytics.