About this interview

In today's digital-first economy, organizations are navigating complex decisions around IT investments, infrastructure resilience, and the promise of AI, all while managing economic uncertainties. Getting it right means balancing innovation with operational discipline.

In this episode of The ITOM Spotlight, we sit down with Jason James, (J.J.), CIO of Aptos Retail, and an active member of Forbes, and Bharani Kumar Kulasekaran, Head of Marketing at ManageEngine ITOM. We discuss how business leaders can make smart IT investments, extract value from AI initiatives, and maintain agility during economic slowdowns, all while building scalable infrastructure that supports long-term growth.

What we discussed

  • How organizations can align IT investments with business priorities for maximum impact
  • What organizations should look for before investing in a vendor or partner
  • Practical tips on managing hybrid IT infrastructure and avoiding common pitfalls
  • The measurable ROI organizations can expect from AI investments across functions
  • How organizations should balance AI advancements and sustainability objectives
  • Strategies to navigate economic headwinds while continuing to drive innovation and growth

About the speaker

Jason James

Jason James is the Chief Information Officer at Aptos Retail, where he oversees global cloud operations, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and digital transformation for the company’s multi-cloud SaaS retail platform. An award-winning CIO and member of both the Forbes Technology Council and the WSJ CIO Network, Jason is widely regarded for his insights on cyber resilience in retail, strategic AI adoption, and building high-performing IT teams. With more than 25 years of IT leadership experience, he has previously served as CIO at several high-growth organizations and held senior IT roles at companies including Servigistics (now PTC), PRGX, and EarthLink.