Mike Bracken made Government Chief Data Officer

Mike Bracken has been appointed as the first ever Government Chief Data Officer, to go alongside his role as Executive Director of Digital in the Cabinet Office, and head of the Government Digital Service – the UK’s de facto Chief Digital Officer. [Also read: Chief Data Officer salary and job description – What’s the role of the CDO and how much does a Chief Data Officer get paid?]

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, made the announcement while lauding 16 local and regional authorities that are “setting the standard in open data and transparency” and recognising them as “Open Data Champions”.

Bracken will be responsible “for developing a new Government Data Standard, championing open data, and encouraging the use of data in the decision-making process. He will lead on developing greater data analysis skills and capability across government”.

Maude said: “I’m delighted to announce that Mike Bracken, who has spearheaded this government’s digital revolution, will also become the Government’s Chief Data Officer.

“He is the ideal person to take our already world-leading approach to open data even further, while strengthening data analysis skills in Whitehall.”

Bracken’s announcement as the UK’s dual data and digital CDO came on the same day US President Barack Obama announced the country’s first Chief Digital Officer.

Silicon Valley veteran Jason Goldman, who has worked at Google, Medium and Twitter, will oversee the government’s digital outreach and head up the expanding Office of Digital Strategy.

“Goldman brings an energy and coveted expertise as someone who’s helped shape the digital age,” President Obama said.

“Our mission is to use every single tool available to ensure that all Americans can contribute to and benefit from our American resurgence.

Goldman will work alongside DJ Patil, who was recruited personally by President Obama last month to be the first ever Chief Data Scientist for the US, as well as Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Data Policy. Patil’s role is to act as an evangelist for new applications of Big Data across all areas of US government, and with a particular focus on healthcare, and he was announced as the first US Chief Data Officer only two weeks after The White House named VMWare executive Tony Scott as its new federal CIO to overhaul government IT.