Government Digital Services head Mike Bracken has been appointed as the UK's first chief data officer, it has been announced.
According to the Cabinet Office, Bracken - who will continue in his GDS role - will be responsible for boosting Whitehall's data analysis skills, drawing up a new government-wide data standard, and promoting the use of data in decision-making.
Bracken was appointed as the Cabinet Office's executive director of digital in 2011, and has led GDS's work to unify government online services under the single Gov.uk platform and to sharpen Whitehall's IT procurement practices.
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Unveiling the appointment this evening, Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis 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."