Out-Law News 2 min. read

Accenture boss to head e-Government


Ian Watmore, UK Managing Director of consultancy firm Accenture, is to be the new head of e-Government. The role, which replaces that of e-Envoy, is to ensure that IT services improve delivery and operational efficiency in Government.

Watmore has a history of challenging roles in both the public and private sectors. He was involved, according to Accenture's blurb, in the implementation of the South African Electoral Commission plan for its 1999 General Election and, most recently, took the top job in two major Accenture contracts to computerise the NHS.

A former punk and Sex Pistols fan, he joined Arthur Andersen in 1980, made Partner in 1990 and, in 2000, following the acrimonious separation of the company when Andersen Consulting split off to form what is now Accenture, Watmore was elected UK Managing Director.

Watmore, 45, is a past President of the Management Consultants Association, chairs the IT Industry Board of eSkills UK and represents Accenture on various external bodies such as the Council for Industry and Higher Education and Business in the Community.

In a personal capacity he is on the Board of the English Institute for Sport, a Lottery funded institute focused on serving high performance athletes in preparation for Olympic and other major sporting events.

Watmore says his new role "is one of the biggest and most challenging IT positions in the UK today."

As Head of e-Government he will be based in the Cabinet Office, will report to the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Andrew Turnbull, and will be accountable to the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Douglas Alexander.

The e-Government Unit will work with departments to deliver efficiency savings while improving the delivery of public services by joining up electronic government services around the needs of customers. Specific responsibilities will include:

Strategy: developing policy and planning for ICT within government and providing an element of programme management for implementation, to support the government's objectives for public service delivery and administrative efficiency.

Architecture: providing policy, design, standards, governance, advice and guidance for ICT in central government; commissioning government-wide infrastructure and services; and addressing issues of systems integration with other levels of government.

Innovation: providing high-level advice to government bodies on innovative opportunities arising from ICT to improve efficiency.

IT Finance: in partnership with OGC (Office of Government Commerce), monitoring major IT projects in government and advising on major investment decisions.

IT HR: Head of the IT profession in government and leading its professional development.

Projects: undertaking ad hoc policy and strategy studies as necessary to support Ministers, the Prime Minister's Office, Cabinet Office or the Treasury.

Research: identifying and communicating key technology trends, opportunities, threats and risks for government.

Security: overseeing government IT security policy, standards, monitoring and assurance, and contingency planning for the critical national infrastructure (the functions of the Central Sponsor for Information Assurance, a responsibility of the current e-Envoy).

Supplier Management: in partnership with OGC, managing the top-level relationship with strategic suppliers to government and conducting supplier analysis.

According to the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Douglas Alexander,

"The change to e-Government Unit represents a development from the original e-Envoy's task of 'getting the UK on-line', to ensuring that the government capitalises on the potential of ICT to both transform service delivery and achieve a step change in operational efficiency across the public sector."

Watmore welcomed the challenge, adding, "I'm looking forward to starting in the position and supporting all the work that Departments are delivering.'

He is due to take up the appointment in September.

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