Chris Hawkinson, NACD.DC, MBA, MSc
Board and Executive Decision Governance | Enterprise AI Accountability | Fractional CDO | NACD.DC
About
I work with boards and executive teams where data, AI, and digital decisions carry real accountability.
My background spans senior executive and fractional leadership roles across data, analytics, technology, and digital functions. The common thread in this work is not transformation for its own sake, but decision governance. Specifically, how ownership, escalation, and accountability hold up as complexity and influence scale.
Over the course of my career, I have served as a trusted advisor to boards and C-suite leaders in industrial, manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare environments. In these settings, success rarely failed because of technology gaps. It failed when decision rights were unclear, accountability drifted over time, or governance did not keep pace with influence.
Fractional CDO and advisory engagements are available for organizations where the mandate aligns with governance-first leadership. https://vtcdo.com
My work focuses on governing decision influence, not just deploying systems. It emphasizes making ownership explicit before momentum masks ambiguity. It reinforces accountability after early success. It designs escalation and pause rights that hold under pressure.
Engagements are selective and advisory in nature. I support leaders who are accountable for outcomes over time and who recognize that governance is not documentation, but a system that must remain durable when conditions change.
I am board-certified (NACD.DC) and bring experience operating at the intersection of board oversight and executive accountability. Fractional and interim roles are considered when the mandate aligns with governance-first leadership.
Experience
Founder
VTCDO by Hawksroost · Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina Area
Mar 2026 – Present(2 mos)
AI-powered advisory platform for boards and executive teams navigating data and AI governance decisions.
Principal and Fractional CDO
Hawksroost · Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina Area
2020 – Present(6 yrs 4 mos)
Founder of Hawksroost, a board and executive decision governance firm focused on accountability, escalation, and oversight in AI-influenced environments. I work with boards and senior leadership teams where data, AI, and digital decisions carry real consequences. The focus is not on technology delivery but on decision ownership, governance structures, and how influence is managed as complexity scales. We offer selective, advisory engagements that support leaders accountable for outcomes over time. Advisory engagements and fractional CDO partnerships are available through https://vtcdo.com.
Senior Director Data and Analytics
Lamb Weston · Eagle, Idaho, United States
2023 – 2026(3 yrs)
Unified fragmented data efforts into a scalable, enterprise-wide global Data and Analytics function at this $6B+ global CPG organization, specializing in food services. Built and led a Chief Digital and AI Office focused on modernizing platforms, elevating global visibility, and facilitating top-line growth. Reduced supply chain risk and positioned the company for global growth by strengthening resilience and scalability through a hybrid Snowflake–AWS–SAP Lakehouse architecture. • Increased visibility and accelerated global decision-making by unifying digital and AI strategy and creating a decentralized Chief Digital and AI Office that transformed fragmented data efforts into an enterprise model. • Drove 4% YoY revenue and volume growth by influencing C-Suite adoption of AI and data and aligning enterprise strategy directly with business outcomes. • Achieved seven-figure savings through AI-driven inventory optimization that eliminated manual tasks for 26 employees.
Director - Data Analytics and Insights (Functioning Enterprise CDO Function)
Valmont Industries, Inc. · United States
2020 – 2023(3 yrs)
Served as the first functional Chief Data and Analytics Officer of this company specializing in Industrial, high-tech manufacturing, and services. Created a modern analytics foundation that accelerated and improved global decision-making. Operationalized AI, strengthened governance, and delivered measurable value to business leaders globally across manufacturing and commercial functions. Deployed AI/ML models to optimize material forecasts and HR/EHS processes. • Achieved 80% faster delivery time and a 26% improvement in time-to-insight (Gartner benchmarked). Cut waste, increased production uptime, and reduced time-lost incidents 14%. • Improved employee retention and attracted top-tier talent by building a talent pipeline and championing a culture of innovation that combined career growth opportunities with impactful data projects. • Aligned compliance with innovation and strengthened trust in data by launching enterprise-wide governance programs, including data governance councils, reusable models, and AI/ML adoption frameworks.
Director of Business Solutions and Integration (Enterprise IT Transformation)
AFL · Duncan, SC
2018 – 2020(2 yrs)
Modernized platforms and aligned business solutions with global business strategy at this 1.5B+ international manufacturer of fiber optic infrastructure, engineering, and solutions. Redesigned the IT and data landscape to drive transformation, stabilize platforms, and prepare AFL for digital scaling. Implemented MDM and governance to align manufacturing, sales, and marketing. • Generated seven-figure savings in year-one by creating a three-year IT and data transformation roadmap that positioned the company to modernize enterprise architecture. Improved resilience by replacing two legacy platforms with modern Cloud alternatives. Boosted data usability by 34% by migrating enterprise data to Azure. • Increased workforce efficiency and cross-functional alignment by deploying Microsoft Power Automate across Marketing, Manufacturing, and Operations, standardizing data usage and streamlining workflows.
Director Of Information Technology (Director of Technology (Enterprise Strategy & Innovation Lead)
Virtual Business Office Associates · Columbia, SC
2017 – 2018(1 yr)
Created and implemented a digital modernization plan focused on improving client onboarding and operational productivity for this operating unit of PwC specializing in healthcare revenue recognition. Quickly grew ROI by driving automation, improving data services, and providing scalable analytics. • Reduced onboarding time from 6 months to under 30 days. Projected a 75% reduction in onboarding costs and an 80% improvement in productivity and positioned the organization to scale client delivery at speed. Designed and implemented a digital roadmap that unified automation, enterprise data services, and advanced analytics into a single modernization plan.
Global Senior IT Manager (IT Strategy, Governance, & Digital Solutions)
Belden · Indianapolis, Indiana Area
2003 – 2017(14 yrs)
Modernized enterprise systems and elevated IT as a strategic business partner to the senior management of this $2.5B global manufacturer of networking, connectivity, and industrial automation solutions. Achieved this by building governance, driving global program delivery, and aligning technology investments with revenue and compliance priorities. Provided leadership that Increased adoption of enterprise initiatives across APAC and EMEA while aligning IT strategy with local commercial needs. • Improved project cycle times by 50%, boosted CRM adoption from 6% to 89%, reduced SAP and Salesforce license costs by 31% and directed a global sales operations transformation that generated eight-figure revenues.
Education
WGU Indiana
Master of Science (M.Sc.), Management and Leadership
2016 – 2016
WGU Indiana
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Information Technology Management
2013 – 2015
Marist University
Bachelor of Science (BSc), Computer Science
1981 – 1984
Expertise
Specialties
