The government has picked the UK boss of the management consultancy Accenture, Ian Watmore, as its first head of e-government.
Mr Watmore will replace the current e-envoy, Andrew Pinder, and take responsibility for continuing the government's drive to deliver public services online more efficiently, a task started by Mr Pinder four years ago.
Tony Blair said he was "delighted" that Mr Watmore would be taking up "a pivotal role ensuring IT supports the ... transformation of government itself so we can provide better, more efficient public services". Mr Watmore will be accountable to Douglas Alexander, minister for the Cabinet Office, and report to the cabinet secretary Sir Andrew Turnbull.
The government claims that 71% of its services are now available online as a result of the work of the office of the e-envoy. The new e-government unit will replace the four-year-old office of the e-envoy, Mr Alexander said.
Mr Watmore said he was looking forward to starting his new job in September.
"The head of e-government is one of the biggest and most challenging IT positions in the UK today. Douglas Alexander and Sir Andrew Turnbull have set a formidable challenge in not only driving up use of government services online but also driving change, reform and efficiencies throughout the public sector by using IT."
Mr Watmore will have 16 months to achieve the government's stated target of getting all public services online by the end of next year. Among the tasks the new e-government head will face are implementing the technology behind the government's proposed identity card scheme, pushing forward the £5bn NHS national programme for IT and finding a contractor to handle the IT for the multibillion pound defence information infrastructure, which will bring together the computer systems of the three armed services and the Ministry of Defence.
A recent e-government survey - carried out by Accenture, Ian Watmore's current employer - ranked the UK joint ninth among 22 nations. The report concluded the UK had "made limited progress in its e-government programme last year", slipping one place, from eighth to ninth, in the rankings. However, it goes on to note: "Upcoming changes in leadership and organisation, the expected enhancements of a customer-focused citizen portal, and additional planned initiatives focused on driving internet awareness and usage among the population should make the United Kingdom one of the most interesting e-government programs to watch over the next 12 months."
