The Chief Analytics Officer or CAO is a job title for a senior manager responsible for the analysis of data within an organization, such as a listed company or an educational institution. The CAO often reports to the chief executive officer.

This position, along with that of Chief Information Officer has risen to prominence due to the rise in information technology and data acquisition. The two positions are similar in that both deal with information. Whereas the CIO focuses on the infrastructure required for maintaining and communicating information, the CAO focuses on the infrastructure required for generating and analyzing information. Another similar position is that of Chief Data Officer. Whereas the CDO focuses on data processing and maintenance, the CAO also focuses on providing input into operational decisions on the basis of the analysis. As such, the CAO requires experience in marketing, finance, and operations. The CAO may be a member of the "executive board" of the organization, but this is dependent on the type of organization. The Chief Information Officer or CIO is a job title for a manager responsible for information technology within an organization, such as a listed company or an educational institution. ... The Chief Data Officer or CDO is a job title for a manager of enterprise-wide data processing & data mining. ...

No specific qualification is typical of CAO's in general; every CAO position has its own specific job description. Many have degrees in statistics, economics, or marketing, but this is by no means universal. Many were analysts in the past. Further management training and experience is also required.