Cos catch fancy for Chief Privacy Officers

The role of this new C-level executive, the latest in the list of top-management titles like CEOs, CFOs and COOs, is safeguarding important business data from rivals and this position is being created increasingly across organisations, say experts.

The appointment of people for this new post has seen an increase of more than 100 per cent in the last four years, as per a new study by consultancy major PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

In some companies this position also goes by the name of Chief Security Officer (CSO) and is largely being seen on the lines of other C-level posts like the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO).

The PwC study titled "Changing Landscape of Security and Surveillance" in Information Technology area, found that the rise of 113 per cent in the appointment of CPOs is highest for any C-level position in the past four years.

The second-highest growth of 67 per cent was seen for the appointment of COOs, found the survey conducted among 7,000 CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, vice-presidents and directors across 119 countries.

The appointment and creation of this new designation is being seen as part of growing focus on data protection, prioritising security investments and creating strong practices to combat security and identity thefts.

"The creation of the rank of the Chief

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