ChicagoCIO has announced finalists for the 2025 Chicago CIO ORBIE® Awards, which recognizes the best-of-the-best in Chicagoland technology leadership. Winners will be announced at the CIO ORBIE Awards on May 16, 2025 at the Marriott Marquis Chicago.
CIO ORBIE nominees & finalists are honored at a series of executive events, beginning with the Nominee Event and ending with the CIO ORBIE Awards.
Chicago CIO ORBIE Awards sponsors are highly valued partners invited by local CIOs to experience the unique opportunity of recognizing the senior technology leadership of top organizations in Chicagoland through a series of year-long events.
| 8:15 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Pre-Event Networking |
| 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | VIP Reception |
| 9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | CIO ORBIE® Awards |
Abhi Dhar is an accomplished global executive with extensive experience in digital business, technology products, and e-commerce. His career spans the travel distribution, retail, and information services sectors, where he has consistently navigated technological disruptions with strategic foresight. Mr. Dhar currently leads product engineering and user experience at Healthbridge, an innovative healthcare fintech startup. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President, Chief Information & Technology Officer at TransUnion, where he was responsible for all aspects of the company's global technology operations and strategy. He serves on the Board of Mumbai-based Credit Information Bureau of India Limited (CIBIL), where he chairs the Corporate Social Responsibility committee and is a member of both the Strategy and Technology committees. Prior to TransUnion, Mr. Dhar co-founded Packyge, Inc., a last-mile delivery startup focused on enhancing in-store digital experiences. His career also includes several technology leadership positions at Walgreen Boots Alliance (WBA), including Chief Digital Officer and Chief Information Officer, where he led significant digital transformation initiatives. Mr. Dhar's value stems from his versatile experience operating at multiple levels – from building enterprise technology organizations with thousands of employees to co-founding startups, from driving award-winning digital innovations to guiding corporate strategy as a public company board director. His board experience includes serving as an independent director for Hawaiian Airlines until November 2019, where he was a member of the Compensation Committee, and on the board of Aviary, a venture-funded startup acquired by Adobe in September 2014. Currently, Mr. Dhar provides advisory services to boards, private equity firms, and senior executives on strategy, transformation, and innovation. He is also an active investor in early-stage startups and commercial real estate. Mr. Dhar holds a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Engineering in Mysore, India, and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. His contributions to organizations include managing large technology operations with budgets exceeding $1 billion, creating digital businesses that have achieved exponential revenue growth, and developing intellectual property that has earned recognition including The Webby Awards. His expertise in information security, privacy, and regulatory compliance further enhances his ability to guide effective risk management strategies.
