Government CIO, Harley Steps Down

Joe Harley, CBE, CIO for the DWP and Government CIO will retire from the Civil Service in the Spring of 2012, it has been announced.

This is only one year after having taken up the post of Government CIO, which he held in conjunction with the DWP CIO role he has held, not without controversy,  since 2004. He asusmed the role of Government CIO when the previous holder, John Suffolk  stepped down at the end of 2010. Suffolk later became global head of security at Chinese giant Huawei.

Wrote the rule book

According to a Department of Work and Pensions statement, “Joe has transformed IT in the Department which has made a huge difference to the efficiency and effectiveness of IT and of the DWP as a whole.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith noted Harley’s contribution to DWP and the Government, stating that he had been instrumental in building reform and modernising our approach to technology.

DWP Permanent Secretary Robert Devereux agreed “He has been pivotal in establishing commercial arrangements which give value for money, and in the delivery of major changes to IT underpinning services which are critical for millions of people every day. The IT for Universal Credit, in particular, is on track.”

In his role as government CIO, Harley played a significant role in the development of the government ICT strategy currently being implemented. According to Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary Ian Watmore, he created and published the transformational ICT Strategy, along with plans of how it will be implemented.

Minister for Cabinet Office Francis Maude also applauded Harley for his contribution “He has led the delivery of a new ICT strategy and strategic implementation plan. These will ensure that the old siloed way of developing government ICT projects comes to an end, and leaves us with all departments working together to produce a fit-for-purpose and cost effective ICT system potentially saving £1.4 billion over the next 4 years.”

Harley added “It’s been a great honour and a privilege to have served the Department and Government over the years. It’s been a hugely fulfilling experience. I am proud to have made some contribution to improving Public Services for the benefit of the citizen and the tax payer.”

According to the DWP statement, the selection process for his successor will begin immediately and the Cabinet Office will run a separate process for the next Government CIO, along with the process that is already underway to replace Bill McCluggage, the Deputy Government CIO.