Government CIO to stand down

A spokesperson said that Suffolk will leave the position at the end of the year. No decision has yet been made on whether he will be replaced, but Ian Watmore, chief operating officer of the Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG), will become chair of the CIO Council until further notice. Suffolk took over the role from Watmore in 2006, having previously been the director general of the Criminal Justice IT system. He has been reporting to Watmore since he returned to government to lead the ERG in September. Suffolk said: "It has been a great honour to have been a civil servant and a huge privilege to have led the IT profession over the last five years. Without doubt we have transformed the UK into a leading user of technology benefiting citizens and the UK economy. "I am immensely proud of the way we have supported the new coalition government in its first six months and have greatly enjoyed working with Francis Maude and his team. I know that with his drive and passion for delivery the very good work we have started will continue and be a great success." In February the Cabinet Office published a draft version of a new Government ICT Strategy . Publication of the final version has been delayed and departmental officials were recently told not to speak publicly about ICT until further notice, fuelling speculation that there could soon be a major change. Suffolk's departure will raise questions about the prospects for the planned G Cloud and Government Applications Store.