3 Problems with Token ‘Head of Innovation’ Roles

When our car breaks down, we call a mechanic.

When our bathroom is flooded, we call a plumber.

We don’t call a plumber to fix our car, nor do we call a dentist to help our dog get over its separation anxiety.

Yet in the world of corporate innovation, this is essentially what’s happening.

Playing Dress-Ups

Having worked in the space for six years, I’ve come across hundreds of people plucked from the wilderness of Accounts Payable, Risk Management or even Graduate rotation programs, and elevated to ‘Head of Innovation’ — or a more questionable sounding title such as Chief Disruptor or Innovation Ninja.

This sort of thing is all too common — a sanitised extract from LinkedIn.

Sometimes they even maintain double-roles, heading up risk management and innovation at the same time.

Three Problems with Token Innovation Roles

There are numerous problems with this, including the following three big ones.

1. It signals to employees, would-be partners and would-be intrapreneurs that the…