Even Kark believes that in five years, close to half of all CIOs will operate in the customer- and business-innovation-focused capacity that leading edge companies require today.

Where Will Next Generation CIOs Come From?

Most of the sources interviewed for this article agree that a solid understanding of technology remains required to succeed in this emerging CIO role. That doesn't mean aspiring CIOs need a computer science degree. Nor does it mean they have to have spent their entire careers in IT. But the CIOs of tomorrow, whether they rise up the ranks in IT or begin their careers in other business functions, need to understand how technology can help their enterprises connect with customers, grow revenue and increase market share.

Today, some executives holding CIO positions possess . Whether this trend will continue is debatable. Those who think more business people will take over the CIO role point to outsourcing and shifting demographic trends to support their positions.

"We're starting to see more and more CIOs who are not traditional technologists," says Forrester's Kark. "We estimate anywhere from 60 to 65 percent of CIOs still have a strong technology background, but that number has been decreasing over the years."