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New public-sector IT head to manage £3bn budget

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Published: 10 May 2004 11:00 BST

One major Whitehall department has looked to the private sector to recruit its new chief information officer

The Department for Work and Pensions has announced the appointment of a new chief information officer to lead its IT programmes.

Joe Harley, who is the global chief information officer for ICI Paints, is to take the position in July 2004. He will be responsible for the DWP's £3bn IT programme, which underpins all of the departments modernisation efforts.

Harley is to report directly to Richard Mottram, the permanent secretary at the DWP.

Commenting on the appointment, Mottram said:

"In joining the department, Joe takes on an exciting and challenging change agenda. We are delivering a major modernisation programme and information technology is crucial to its success. His role will be at the forefront of this world class change programme that will help us deliver a better service to our customers. Joe will bring a wealth of experience in the delivery of major IT and business change programmes."

Harley has served as global IT vice president for BP and joined ICI in 2000.

He said he was "excited" to be joining the DWP as it has a "progressive change programme".

"I am looking forward to getting started and to working with the team to deliver success," he said on 7 May, 2004.