Chief Imaginary Officer
/ˌtʃiːf ɪˈmædʒɪnəri ˈɒfɪsə/ n. (pl. none known to exist)
Abbr. CIO (not to be confused with the other one)
An individual who does not deliver. Holds the title of a senior technology executive (and strategy!) with great conviction and no supporting evidence.
“The roadmap has been with our Chief Imaginary Officer since spring. It remains a road.”
colloq.One who appears to tell a great many anecdotes, all of which, on inspection, are the same anecdote wearing a different airport.
“He began, ‘When I was at a large bank…’, and we cancelled the rest of the afternoon.”
by ext.A person whose diary contains strategy sessions, alignment syncs and offsites, but whose outbox contains nothing.
EtymologyFrom Latin imaginarius, “existing only in the mind”, and Middle English officer, “one who holds an office”. The office, in this case, is also imaginary.
UsageMost often heard after the words “Leave that with me”. Rarely heard again.
Synonymsthought leader, visionary (self-declared), deck enthusiast.
Antonymsanyone who has shipped something.
See alsoDeliverable (obs.), Next Steps (myth.), Circle Back (v., recurring).