Nickalls to leave Directgov

A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office told GC News : "Jane has decided that it's time for her to change direction and for others to take Directgov on the next leg of its journey." The Cabinet Office said that the date for her departure has not yet been set. "Ian Watmore (the head of the Efficiency and Reform Group) will consider how to take the organisation forward and will be consulting with staff, trade unions and ministers," said the spokesperson. Nickalls joined Directgov in 2007 with than 20 years experience in business and IT consulting, including stints as a technology problem solver with Capgemini and US based Chordiant Software during its start up. Directgov was launched in 2004 as government's central citizen facing portal, and its importance has increased as the website rationalisation programme has been implemented. Its latest additions have included a version for mobile phones which run on Google's Android operating system, and 'moneyspeak', an interactive web tool aimed at helping the public find information about financial terms and issues. A recent review of the site led by the government's digital champion Martha Lane Fox concluded that it needs to be simplified.