Group CEO Thomas Prommer Named to the HotTopics Global CIO for 2026
A peer-nominated, independently judged recognition of the world's most influential technology leaders — the kind of standing earned in the field, not bought.
Thomas Prommer, Group CEO of We The Flywheel, has been named to the HotTopics Global CIO for 2026 — a peer-nominated, independently judged recognition of the world's most influential digital and technology leaders. Selection is decided by practitioner nomination and editorial review, not paid entry. That puts it in the same category of credibility We The Flywheel builds its consultancy on: standing earned in the field, not a placement you can buy.
"Being recognized by your peers — the people doing this work in the field alongside you — is the measure that matters. Enterprise technology and AI strategy leadership is a team sport. This recognition reflects the teams I've had the privilege to build, consult, and advise with."
What is the HotTopics Global CIO?
It is an annual list of the most influential digital, technology, and AI leaders in the world, produced by HotTopics, an intelligence platform for the C-suite technology community. Each year the official Global CIO awards name the CIOs, CTOs, and CDOs who set technology direction inside large organizations. Honorees are chosen by peer nomination and independent editorial review — not by self-submission or paid entry. HotTopics revealed the 2026 honorees on 22 June 2026.
That selection mechanism is the point. A list decided by practitioners is a read on standing among the people doing the work, not a directory you can pay your way into. It is the same distinction we hold our own evidence to across the WTF Radar and our AI strategy guides.
Why does this recognition sit with We The Flywheel?
We The Flywheel is a practitioner-run house: an AI consultancy, a media network, and a product studio. Our work depends on the people running it having operated at the scope our clients are navigating. The Global CIO is independent confirmation that the practitioner leading the group does — across enterprise platform engineering, AI strategy, and customer-facing digital revenue.
Prommer has more than 20 years leading digital transformation for Fortune 500 companies, with responsibility for platform engineering, AI strategy, and data science across global retail and sportswear brands. As President of Huge Inc. he led digital transformation for clients including McDonald's, Google, Apple, and Toyota, built a 200-person nearshore engineering operation in 18 months, and ran engagements worth more than $10 million. As CIO at Sweetgreen he built the technology function and the digital ordering platform that now drives most of the company's revenue; as Global SVP Engineering at Adidas he consolidated fragmented regional teams into one engineering organization behind a $9B+ e-commerce operation across 50 markets.
How does this connect to our other work?
The recognition lands the same month as another. In June, the Fast Company World Changing Ideas Awards recognized Flywheel Motion, which Prommer co-founded with Andi Cross. Today he publishes his consultancy work through We The Flywheel and the AI Strategy Guide, and runs CTAIO, a media brand for technology and AI leaders. The through-line is consistent: turn hard-won field experience into systems and guidance other leaders can use. Read the full announcement on his media page, or see the rest of our coverage on the newsroom.
Where to read the announcement
The announcement was distributed via ABNewswire and picked up across financial and business wires. Selected coverage:
Frequently asked questions
What is the HotTopics Global CIO?
It is an annual recognition of the world’s most influential digital, technology, and AI leaders, produced by HotTopics, an intelligence platform for the C-suite technology community. It names the CIOs, CTOs, and CDOs who set technology direction inside large organizations. HotTopics revealed the 2026 list on 22 June 2026.
How are honorees selected, and can the placement be bought?
No. Honorees are chosen by peer nomination and independent editorial review — not by self-submission or paid entry. That makes the list a read on standing among practitioners rather than a placement you can purchase, which is the distinction that matters for an evidence-first consultancy.
Who is Thomas Prommer, and what is his role at We The Flywheel?
Thomas Prommer is Group CEO of We The Flywheel. He has more than 20 years leading digital transformation for Fortune 500 companies, including roles as CIO at Sweetgreen, Global SVP Engineering at Adidas, and President of Huge Inc. He co-founded Flywheel Motion, a 2026 Fast Company World Changing Ideas honoree.
What does the recognition mean for We The Flywheel clients?
We The Flywheel advises technology and AI leaders on raising AI maturity and turning strategy into systems that ship. The recognition is independent confirmation that the practitioner running the house operates at the scope our clients are navigating — enterprise platform engineering, AI strategy, and digital P&L ownership.
Media contact
For interview requests or media partnerships: press@wetheflywheel.com. Background, biography, and media assets: Thomas Prommer media kit ↗.