The appointment of SOCITM’s new President – Glyn Evans, Corporate Director of Business Change for Birmingham City Council - was finally announced at the end of last week. We had been expecting the announcement for some time. Evans joined Birmingham City Council in November 2003 and led the business transformation programme across the Council. Amongst other achievements, he led the creation of joint venture company – ‘Service Birmingham’ - with Capita. Capita’s contract was extended at the end of last year (see Capita scores again at Birmingham). All in all, Evans has over 30 years experience of working in local government in various IT support and management positions. We understand he will be leaving Birmingham on secondment to Warwick Business School in July.
Evans appointment came just a day after SOCITM’s outgoing President Jos Creese launched its ‘Planting the Flag’ strategy (see SOCITM launches strategy for IT-enabled public services reform). Undoubtedly Creese had a heavy involvement in preparing ‘Planting the Flag’, so it was perhaps appropriate that the launch should be his parting gesture. Evans can now get his teeth into the next phase – ‘Planning the Route’ – which will see detailed action plans put in place. Having met Evans, it’s fair to say he’s a man who speaks his mind. So we look forward to some interesting conversations with him once he gets settled in his new role.