Cabinet Office appoints Conall Bullock as chief digital officer

Bullock will take over the previously separate duties of CTO, CIO and CDO

The Cabinet Office has appointed a new chief digital officer (CDO) to take up the previously separate duties of chief technology officer (CTO), chief information officer (CIO) and CDO.

Conall Bullock previously provided IT consultancy and contracting services to clients of XcIT, and has also held roles as interim head of IT at Bracknell Forest Homes, interim director of IS at the Chartered Insurance Institute and head of IT and data protection at disability charity Scope UK.

According to a government document, Bullock's responsibilities fall into four categories: the applications and services that are core to specific business units, digital services, shared services such as ERP, and common technology services such as laptops, Wi-Fi and email.

He will also have to recruit and lead a new digital and technology team, implement significant business and cultural changes across the department and define the strategic direction and business priorities for the development of the department's technology.

The government emphasised that the role was about moving away from outsourced services driven by legacy systems.

"The success of the chosen candidate will ultimately be measured against their delivery of technology that enables the next generation of digital public services, and the civil service best-in-class working environments," the document stated.

The contract is a fixed-term appointment for two years and is at the senior civil service pay band one level, meaning that Bullock would be earning in the region of £90,000 a year. According to Bullock's LinkedIn profile, he has already started his role as CDO.

Bullock's appointment comes on the back of the government naming Mike Bracken as its first ever chief data officer - a role that he will combine with his current job as the head of Government Digital Service (GDS).

On the news of Bullock's appointment, Bracken tweeted: "Enjoy your new role in Cabinet Office. Delighted you are here".