JOHN SUFFOLK APPOINTED AS CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
26 Apr 2006 05:45 PM
Jim Murphy, Cabinet Office Minister, today announced the appointment
of John Suffolk as the Government Chief Information Officer (CIO).
John will lead the work of the CIO Council* in delivering the
Government's strategy for the transformation of public services,
enabled by technology.
In this role, John Suffolk will provide leadership to the IT
Profession across the wider public sector, enable public service
transformation through the strategic deployment of technology, drive
the development of shared services and act as the 'face' of UK
Government IT both home and abroad. He will take up this post in
early June.
Jim Murphy said: "The Government CIO is a high profile post at the
centre of Government.
"I am delighted to announce John Suffolk has been appointed to this
post as I believe he has the necessary drive, experience and
leadership qualities to fill this pivotal role - a role in which he
will be expected to play an important part in realising the
government's vision for public service reform. "
John will move up from his current position as Director General of
Criminal Justice IT (CJIT). He was appointed to this post in February
2004. He has a background of over 25 years' experience in IT and
major transformation programmes. John has worked in the financial
service industries and has extensive experience in delivering
IT-enabled change.
John Suffolk's appointment was made with the approval of the Prime
Minister. He will report to Ian Watmore, the Head of the Prime
Minister's Delivery Unit and former Government CIO.
Ian Watmore added: "I am very pleased to welcome John into this role.
After a successful career in the financial services sector, he has
been an influential member of the CIO Council from its inception,
through his leadership role on Criminal Justice IT. This combination
of public and private sector experience makes him ideally equipped to
lead the implementation of the Transformational Government strategy
to enable the delivery of better, more efficient, public services."
The Transformational Government Strategy was launched in November
2005. It sets out the Government's vision for a long-term
transformation of public services to provide efficient, effective
services designed around the needs of citizens and businesses.
Notes to Editors
1. The Transformational Government Strategy is available at
www.cio.gov.uk
2. The Implementation Plan setting out how the Strategy will be
realised was published on 29 March 2006 and is also available at
www.cio.gov.uk
3. The CIO Council acts as a focus for partnership between IT
professionals across government and the wider public sector and is
charged with creating and delivering a government-wide CIO agenda.
The Government CIO is Chair of the Council. www.cio.gov.uk
Cabinet Office Press Office 70 Whitehall LONDON SW1A 2AS
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