New post to replace e-Envoy

Link: E-envoy promises ‘rethink’ of internet strategy

The role of the head of e-Government, the equivalent of a chief information officer for government, is expected to be advertised ‘shortly’.

This post will replace that of the e-Envoy as a champion for public sector IT. The contract of the current e-Envoy Andrew Pinder is due to end at the end of April.

In order to attract quality applicants the government needs to demonstrate it would back them to make tough decisions, according to government IT expert Jim Norton.

‘There shouldn’t be a shortage of takers, but it will depend on the salary,’ said Nick Kalisperas, public sector spokesman at industry group Intellect.

April also sees the retirement of Sir Peter Gershon, chief executive of the Office of Government Commerce, which oversees central government IT purchases.

Both positions could be filled by candidates from the private sector – last week, prime minister Tony Blair told senior civil servants that top jobs require specialised skills.

‘In future the key roles in finance, IT and human resources will be filled by people with a demonstrable professional track record in tackling major organisational change, whether inside or outside the [civil] service,’ he said.

‘The talented amateur is simply not equipped for these complex, specialised tasks,’ he said.