Guest post by Boyden Partner Bashar Kilani in CEOWORLD magazine explores how AI is commoditizing intelligence and redefining leadership, emphasizing cognitive agility, judgment, and the orchestration of human‑machine intelligence.
Patrick Naef is both a seasoned technology executive and a highly regarded consultant with vast expertise in digital transformation. He also has sector-specific expertise in airlines, aviation and other industries, gained through more than 20 years in senior leadership roles. Patrick brings a global perspective, having worked in various countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Professional Focus
- 20 years’ experience as a consultant/advisor and C-level executive, focused on technology within a range of sectors including airlines/aviation, travel & transportation, infrastructure, telecoms, consumer goods
- Specialized expertise in digitization, digital business models, IT strategy, organizational development and technology-driven innovation
- Extensive experience as a non-executive director and advisory board member on the boards of start-ups and multinationals in various industries
- Fluent in German, French and English, with working knowledge of Spanish
Business Expertise
- CEO and Founder of ITvisor GmbH, a boutique consulting firm specialising in digital transformation
- Group Chief Information Officer and Divisional SVP, Member of Executive Management Board of Emirates Airline Group, Dubai, U.A.E.
- CEO of Mercator, an Emirates Group subsidiary, provider of IT products and services to the travel & transportation industry, Dubai, U.A.E.
- Director and Head of Global Infrastructure Projects at Zurich Financial Services (ZFS), Zurich, Switzerland
- Group Chief Information Officer of SIG Holding AG (now SIG Combibloc Group), Neuhausen, Switzerland
- Head of ISP Projects at Zurich Insurance
- CEO and Board Chairman of SIG IT GmbH, part of SIG Group, Linnich, Germany
- Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President of Swissair and Swissair-Sabena Airline Management Partnership (AMP); Head of the Swissair Group CIO Board
- Chief Technology Officer and founding member of Swissair online portal Beyoo.com, Zurich, Switzerland
Additional Expertise
- IT Services
- Aviation & Travel
- Infrastructure & Transportation
- Telecommunications
- Financial Services
- Consumer Products
Awards
- Business Transformation 150, Constellation Research (2017)
- Top 50 CIO Award, Computer News Middle East (2013)
- CIO of the Decade, IDG, Computerwoche.de and German CIO Magazine (2011)
- Aviation IT Manager of the Year, Aviation Business ME (2009)
- Top 10 CIO Middle East Award, Computer News Middle East (2009)
- CIO of the Year Runner-Up, IDG, Computerwoche.de and German CIO Magazine (2009)
Areas of Expertise
Education & Certifications
- Executive MBA from University of St. Gallen (HSG), St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Master’s degree in Computer Science from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland
- Executive Program, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, California, U.S.
- Board Effectiveness Programme, Global Board Center, IMD Business School, Lausanne, Switzerland
Affiliations & Awards
Current
- Non-Executive Director and Technology Committee Chairman, Board of Franke Holding AG
- Member, Sapphire Ventures CXO Advisory Network, Palo Alto, California, U.S.
- Member, Advisory Board of FlyNava Technologies, Bangalore, India
- Member, CIO Advisory Board, Mayfield Ventures, Menlo Park, California, U.S.
- Member, Sierra Ventures CXO Advisory Board, San Mateo, California, U.S.
Past
- Non-Executive Director, Board of SITA, Geneva, Switzerland
- Member, BT Group (British Telecom) Global Advisory Board, London, U.K.
- Member, Capgemini International Executive Council, Paris, France
- Non-Executive Director, board of mercator FZE, Dubai, UAE
- Non-Executive Chairman, board of mercator Asia, Bangkok, Thailand
Boyden partnered with a publicly traded cybersecurity firm to appoint a transformative director whose reputation and leadership experience amplify the company’s strategic ambitions and market position.
How Boyden placed a strategic SVP to drive e-mobility growth
A Caribbean financial and mortgage bank partnered with Boyden to recruit a strategic Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), enhancing cybersecurity governance and supporting digital transformation across the organization.
A European family-owned business approaching generational transition recognized that its U.S. operation required more than continuity—it required growth. The challenge was to redefine leadership for a critical market while navigating family dynamics and cross-border complexity. Here’s how the right appointment helped unlock the company’s U.S. potential.
As energy markets transform, private equity is driving the transition with diversified portfolios and leaders who can master both legacy and renewable systems.
Industrial Trends Report: Analysing markets, studies, and trends on how AI, machine learning, and digitalisation are reshaping the industrial sector, with expert insights on talent and leadership from Boyden’s Global Industrial Practice Members.
A Business Insider piece explores how layoff announcements are evolving into AI‑era strategy statements, highlighting Boyden Partner Rick Wargo’s insights on why companies now emphasize shifting skill needs and long‑term transformation over cost‑cutting.
Reflexão de Fernando Neves de Almeida sobre a liderança em tempos de Inteligência Artificial, destacando o papel essencial da experiência humana para orientar mudanças organizacionais profundas.
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