Since the introduction of the European Union’s GDPR legislation the role of the Data Protection Officer (DPO) has exploded within businesses in Europe and across the world. Within a couple of years, the role has gone from niche to commonplace. The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) estimates some 500,000 DPOs are in Europe alone, most of whom report directly to the board. According to the IAPP-EY Governance Report 2019, around 72% of organizations from the EU and US have at least one DPO, and 18% reportedly have more than one.
