What happens when a self-described “data geek” takes on a top leadership role in one of the most traditional sectors of the economy? At Delek US Holdings, a $10B+ energy company with deep roots in oil refining, logistics, and fuel retail, it means shaking up the playbook from the inside.

Ido Biger wears two hats at Delek: Chief Information Officer and Chief Data Officer. That dual role isn’t just a title, it’s a strategy. With experience in aviation, telecom, and finance, Biger brings an outsider’s mindset to an industry built on assets, efficiency, and long-standing processes. But rather than pushing change from a distance, he’s all in — putting on a hard hat, shadowing frontline operators, and learning the business before mapping the tech.

In this three-part interview series, Fred Knops, SVP at Data Society, sits down with Biger to explore what transformation really looks like beyond buzzwords, in a company where safety, scale, and operational rigor come first.

In Part 1, Biger talks about why data leaders are increasingly stepping into CIO roles, how hands-on learning beats slide decks, and why building a data-driven culture in oil and gas starts by speaking the language of the field — not just the cloud.

Edited Excerpts