Specialize the next 3 years into a defensible niche: cloud platform / FinOps / SecOps / data infrastructure leadership — generic IT management is the part of the stack AI compresses hardest, while named specialty IT leaders still command shortage pricing.

Own a visible cost-out or modernization program with a hard EUR number attached, then talk about it at one industry conference per year — moves the references signal upward and gives recruiters a quoteable line, which is what differentiates a Head-of-IT search from a generic IT-manager search.

Target a jump from 'well_known' employer to a top-tier multinational or fast-growing scale-up at Head-of-IT title in the next role — at this experience level the title and employer combination typically lifts comp 30-50% and opens transfer-market interest where none currently exists.