Human Resources
From the Cab to the Cloud with Werner CIO Daragh Mahon
Technology shaped by firsthand experience with what it takes to keep the business moving.
Julie Colwell
Principal Strategist
Workday
When Daragh Mahon talks about leadership, his favorite word isn’t innovation or transformation. It’s ownership. “If I were talking to a young up-and-coming CIO,” he says, “I’d tell them to be relentless in the job. When you say you’re going to do something, you do it. You don’t stop until it’s delivered.”
That mindset has powered Mahon’s career journey—one that began not in a boardroom, but behind the wheel of a truck. Today, as executive vice president and chief information officer at Werner Enterprises, Mahon leads one of North America’s largest transportation and logistics providers into its next era. His mix of operational empathy, hands-on technical experience, and passion for people has made him a distinctive voice in an industry built on movement.
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Built for the Long Haul
Before joining Werner in 2020, Mahon spent over 15 years in IT leadership roles at Sage North America and Vonage, where he led large-scale cloud and ERP migrations. Along the way, he built a reputation for calm under pressure. “At one company, after almost ten years of SAP implementations, the team voted me the person to call when 'stuff' hits the fan," he says with a laugh. “That’s the award I’m most proud of.”
That combination of tenacity and practical wisdom is now central to Werner’s technology strategy. Under Mahon’s leadership, Werner has expanded its Werner EDGE innovation initiative—encompassing AI, cybersecurity, driver safety systems, and enterprise modernization. “Running technology at Werner means building on a long legacy of innovation,” he explains. “Back in the late ’70s, Werner was the first company to use IBM’s System/32 to print checks, and in the mid-’90s we became the first to use electronic driver logs—two decades ahead of the federal mandate.”
Moving Freight and the Future
Founded in 1956 when C.L. Werner sold his car to buy his first truck, Werner Enterprises now moves freight across North America through its truckload, brokerage, intermodal, and dedicated divisions. “If you buy it, we probably brought it,” Mahon says. “Our drivers are on the road every day. They don’t get enough credit for being first responders, but essentially, that’s what they are.”
“Keeping America moving isn’t a slogan. It’s what we do.”
That sense of purpose runs deep through the company’s culture. It’s one of the reasons Mahon’s people-first leadership style fits so naturally. “We’re proud of our drivers. No matter the conditions, we make sure what people need gets to the shelves,” he says. “Keeping America moving isn’t a slogan. It’s what we do.”
Keeping the Network in Motion
Behind the scenes, Werner has also been modernizing its enterprise backbone, helping the company streamline HR, finance, and planning processes across a large and distributed workforce. Mahon serves on the Workday CIO Advisory Board, bringing the perspective of a logistics leader to Workday’s global community of technology executives.
For him, that partnership is less about products than people. “For me, it’s about the connectivity,” he says. “It’s about meeting people, networking, making sure I have the right connections with other key players in the industry. It’s more about who you know than what you know.”
That ecosystem approach reflects Mahon’s broader philosophy: technology succeeds when relationships do. At Werner, that means close collaboration between IT and the business, so technology investments, from the back office to AI-enabled logistics tools, are grounded in operational reality.
“It’s about meeting people, networking, making sure I have the right connections with other key players in the industry.”
Miles of Momentum
Mahon sees parallels between his career in technology and his lifelong passion for sports. “There are sports personalities that you can translate their mindset directly to work,” he says. “Roy Keane, the Manchester United captain, and Katie Taylor, an Irish boxer who’s won championships in every weight class she’s fought — both represent perseverance and relentless delivery. That’s what I try to bring to my role.”
That same spirit is embedded in Werner’s DNA. “Our founder, C.L. Werner, is the epitome of perseverance,” Mahon says. “He’s 89 years old now and still wants to know what’s happening in the business. From one guy selling his car to buy a truck to one of the biggest trucking companies in North America—that’s execution.”
The Road Ahead
Mahon’s curiosity extends well beyond technology. “Sport is probably number one,” he says. “I’m a big soccer, rugby, and Formula 1 fan. I also love to read. Most weekends, you’ll find me on the couch with a book.”
That appetite for learning mirrors how he approaches technology change—continuously scanning for ideas, connections, and future possibilities. As Werner approaches its 75th anniversary, Mahon is focused on sustaining the company’s edge in innovation while keeping its human roots strong. “We’re building on decades of technology leadership,” he says, “And we’re making sure every driver, every employee feels connected and supported.”
“We’re building on decades of technology leadership. And we’re making sure every driver, every employee feels connected and supported.”
For Mahon, transformation isn’t a buzzword; it’s a discipline. “When I say I’m going to do something, I go do it,” he says. “That’s what drives me—extreme ownership, perseverance, and delivering on the promise.”
Werner keeps America moving. Learn how the organization modernized its fleet to empower drivers and drive efficiency.
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