CIO Roundtable: The IT Operating Model for the AI Era
A structured, peer‑level discussion on what’s breaking in traditional IT operating models, where automation is replacing manual work, and what leaders are changing first.
Event details
- Date: Tuesday 16 June 2026
- Time: 8:30-11:00
- Location: The Ivy Tower Bridge, One Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2AA
Why make time for this
Most IT leaders don’t have a technology problem. They have an operating‑model problem.
AI is accelerating work. Expectations are rising. Risk is continuous – yet many IT operating models are still built for a slower, simpler world.
Boards aren’t asking what tools you’ve deployed. They’re asking tougher questions:
- Is the business actually more productive?
- Is risk under control – by default, not by exception?
- Is digital experience improving, or just better reported?
- Are we ready for what AI is about to demand from platforms and teams?
Simplify cloud operations so day‑to‑day running doesn’t expand with every new workload
Adopt simple, repeatable standards and guardrails so exceptions don’t become permanent complexity (without slowing delivery)
Automate the right controls (cost, governance, reliability and re
This roundtable is for CIOs who want clarity, not hype – and who are actively rethinking how IT operates in the AI era, not just what it runs.
What we’ll cover
This is a peer‑level, structured discussion – not a presentation. We’ll tackle four leadership realities:
- What’s breaking in traditional IT operating models – decision‑making, governance, service models, operating rhythms.
- Where automation and AI are replacing manual work – and what that changes (service operations, experience, governance, security, platform reliability).
- How leaders are balancing speed, experience and risk when governance must enable progress, not slow it down.
- What leaders are changing first – the practical first moves that create control without adding complexity.
No vendor waffle. No theory. Just real trade‑offs leaders are making right now.
Who this is for
Senior leaders accountable for outcomes, not activity:
- CIOs, CTOs and Heads of IT shaping the next phase of their operating model
- Leaders responsible for experience, productivity, risk and resilience
- CIOs under board pressure to scale AI without increasing exposure
- Organisations moving beyond “keeping the lights on” to running IT as a strategic capability
If you’re ready to redesign how IT runs because AI changes the rules – this is the room to be in.
What you'll leave with
You won’t leave with slides. You’ll leave with clarity.
Specifically:
- A clear view of where your operating model is under strain – and why
- A shortlist of automation moves that genuinely change how work gets done
- A practical view of how experience, AI and security intersect at operating‑model level
- A peer‑validated set of priorities for the next 90 days
- Language you can use with your board
For many attendees, this becomes the starting point for a Technology Roadmap – aligning experience, digital foundations, secure productivity and AI into a single, outcome‑led plan.
The morning’s structure
08:30: Arrival + Networking: Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and connect with peers while taking in a breath-taking view of Tower Bridge.
09:00 – Framing: IT leadership in the AI era: Experience as an outcome, AI changing how work gets done, and security/governance built‑in by default.
09:10 – What’s breaking in traditional IT operating models: Decision rights, operating rhythms, service models, governance patterns that fail first as speed increases. Output: a shared “breakage heatmap” in board‑ready language.
09:45 – Where automation is replacing manual work, and what it changes: Service operations & digital experience, governance at AI speed, and the shift from Copilot to agents. Output: an automation shortlist + non‑negotiable guardrails + how leaders measure success.
10:15 – Short break
10:30 – What leaders are changing first (Stop / Start / Continue): A practical exercise focused on the first 90 days of operating‑model change. Output: peer‑validated 90‑day moves that become the foundation of a prioritised roadmap.
10:55 – Close: from insight to action: A clear wrap‑up across experience, foundations, secure‑by‑default operations and scalable, governed AI.
About Wanstor
Wanstor helps organisations run Microsoft‑led IT with confidence in moments that actually matter. When the board asks whether IT is enabling the business – you can answer, clearly. When Microsoft Copilot and AI accelerate change – control doesn’t slip. When security, experience and productivity collide – decisions don’t stall.
We work with organisations that rely on Microsoft 365, Azure and the Microsoft security stack as the backbone of how work gets done – and need an operating model that keeps pace without creating chaos.
Wanstor has deep Microsoft expertise – service operations, security, cloud and digital foundations – but those are the evidence, not the pitch. The value is the operating model leaders can actually run.
This roundtable reflects how we work with CIOs today: peer‑level, outcome‑led, and focused on redesigning how Microsoft‑centric IT operates in the AI era – starting with the after picture, not the feature list.
We’re trusted by leaders in Not‑for‑Profit, Housing Associations, Legal Services, Consultancies, Professional Services, and Hospitality because we make things happen – fast, securely, and with zero drama. If you want a partner who’s proactive, practical, and always focused on your outcomes, you’ll feel right at home with Wanstor.
Secure your spot now
A focused, senior‑level session - done by 11:00, with decisions you can take straight back to the business.