Alongside the new Central Digital & Data Office (CDDO), the UK Government has appointed three senior digital, data and technology leaders to start in February of this year.

The CDDO is being established under the auspices of the Cabinet Office to serve as a ‘strategic centre for digital, data and technology (DDaT) across government’.

The new CDDO will be headed up by current Home Office Chief Digital, Data & Technology officer (CDTO) Joanna Davinson, who, as part of her new role, will be directly responsible for all of the UK Governments 18,000 DDaT professionals as well spearheading DDaT functionality withing Government.

It is an honour and a privilege to be chosen to lead the government DDaT profession and community, and to have the opportunity to shape government digital, data and technology on a national scale I am looking forward to working with department chief digital information officers and their teams and with other colleagues across government, to develop and deliver the strategies and plans that enable the UK to lead the way in serving its citizens by being one of the most digitally advanced governments in the world.

Joanna Davinson – Home Office, CDTO

The new CDDO will be chaired by Paul Willmott, in a non-executive, unpaid role.

The creation of the CDDO is an exciting and important moment for digital government in the UK. There is a clear mission to establish the UK as global leader in digital government and to provide citizens with better services. The ambition and challenges are substantial but, from what I’ve seen, we have both the capabilities and determination to succeed. I’m delighted to be able to help.

Paul Willmott – CDDO, Chairman

At the same time, the Government has appointed a new Governmental Digital Service (GDS) Chief Exec after the interim director general, Alison Pritchard, left last October.

The role will be taken up by Tom Read who was, until accepting this role, Chief Digital And Information Officer for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

As part of his role of CEO for the GDS he’ll be directly responsible for the creation and implementation of a vision and strategy for the GDS’s work, overseeing it’s budgetary and strategic risks.

Having the opportunity to lead GDS into its next era is incredibly exciting and one that I cannot wait to get started on. Never has it been more important to build, deliver and support services that are fundamentally based on the needs of our users. I look forward to delivering a refreshed focus on the development and delivery of digital products and services underpinned by strong digital standards.