Croydon appoints Gov.uk Head Neil Williams as Chief Digital Officer

Croydon Council has appointed Gov.uk Head Neil Williams as its new Chief Digital Officer.

The appointment is something of a coup for Croydon. Williams joined the Government Digital Service (GDS) at its inception in 2011 and went on to become its deputy director, with specific responsibility for the gov.uk website.

He will now take charge of the design and delivery of Croydon’s digital services for residents and businesses as well as the council’s internal IT function.

Croydon was named Digital Council of the Year in the Local Government Chronicle’s 2017 awards but has also faced criticism for failings with the MyCroydon app and Digital Enabling programme.

In a Croydon Council press release, Williams said he was thrilled to accept the role at his home borough, which he will begin in October.

“I’m passionate about public service, in particular the role digital plays in making services and support simple and intuitive, designed around users’ needs,” he said.

“Building on the great foundations that made Croydon 2017’s Digital Council of the Year, I’m looking forward to leading the next phase of digital transformation, harnessing the opportunities around Smart Cities, and making the borough an even better place for residents and businesses to thrive.

“I’m fiercely proud of this brilliant, diverse and creative borough – Croydon is a great place to live and work, so I’m delighted to have this opportunity to play a part in its continued growth at this exciting time.”