Government CIO John Suffolk to step down
Whitehall tech chief to leave after four years in the role
John Suffolk is to step down as government CIO at the end of the year.
Suffolk was appointed to the role in 2006 and has been instrumental in driving forward technology transformation projects designed to support more efficient government.
Under Suffolk's stewardship, the government has embarked on initiatives to create the G-Cloud - a cloud platform aimed at reusing and sharing datacentres and applications across government - and to create a single national telecoms infrastructure.
The office of the government CIO has been busy since the coalition government was elected in May, helping oversee a moratorium and review of IT projects worth more than £1m and also drafting a forthcoming ICT strategy for government.
Suffolk today said he is confident that the coalition government and Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude will continue the work he started.
"It has been a great honour to have been a civil servant and a huge privilege to have led the IT profession over the last five years. Without doubt we have transformed the UK into a leading user of technology benefiting citizens and the UK economy.
John Suffolk will step down as government CIO at the end of the year
(Photo credit: Cabinet Office)
"I am immensely proud of the way we have supported the new coalition government in its first six months and have greatly enjoyed working with Francis Maude and his team. I know that with his drive and passion for delivering the very good work we have started will continue and be a great success," he said in a statement.
Suffolk currently chairs the government's CIO Council, a role that will be taken over by Ian Watmore, COO of the Cabinet Office Efficiency and Reform Group and former government CIO, after Suffolk leaves.
Cabinet secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell paid tribute to the work undertaken by Suffolk, telling staff: "His work with the CIO Council and technology professionals across government has ensured that we are well placed to cope with the challenges that we will face."
Suffolk has had a 25-year career spanning both public and private sector - including roles as a business troubleshooter, MD of Britannia and director general of the government's £2bn Criminal Justice IT programme.
Suffolk was also voted the most influential CIO this year after topping the silicon.com CIO50 list.