Government poaches top private-sector IT chief

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has snapped up the top IT executive from ICI Paints to head up its systems delivery group as director and CIO.

Joe Harley is currently global CIO at ICI and will take over as CIO and Director of the systems delivery group at the DWP by July, with responsibility for a £3bn IT programme underpinning the department's modernisation.

Harley's career path has seen him gain extensive experience at BP in various roles, including global IT VP, before joining ICI paints.

Harley's new boss, Richard Mottram, permanent secretary for the DWP, said in a statement: "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."

The position is one of many CIO-roles that the government is looking to fill to oversee the execution of various high-profile modernisation projects. Just last week, it advertised for a CIO of a merged Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise, while the Cabinet Office is also looking for a government-wide CIO.