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UK gets first director general for digital and media

20/10/16

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Matthew Gould takes on DCMS based role aimed at boosting national digital skills and technology

The Government has appointed Matthew Gould as its first director general for digital and media, with a brief to encourage the growth of the UK’s capability in the field.

He will work within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), focusing on issues including connectivity, building digital ecosystems, equipping people with the relevant skills and cutting the number of people on the wrong side of the ‘digital divide’.

While his brief does not relate directly to public services, it does cover issues that will have a strong influence on the capacity for digital transformation among authorities, notably in the supporting infrastructure and ecosystems of companies that can provide the technology and services.

Gould commented: Our economy is powered by innovation and we want Britain to be the safest place to do business and go online. But if we want the UK to prosper we need to make sure we have world class connectivity, and if we want an inclusive society, we need to tackle digital exclusion and make sure everyone has the digital skills they need.

“I’m determined to tackle these challenges to help make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a digital company.”

Gould has a record in the digital field, having served a stint as director of cyber security and information assurance in the Cabinet Office. In his most recent role, as British ambassador to Israel, he helped to set up joint tech hub to build the relationship between the two companies in the field.

The official announcement said he will work closely with Liam Maxwell, the Government’s national technology adviser, who reports to ministers in the DCMS and Cabinet Office.

Image from GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0

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