Newly installed Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham is already hoping to go one better than her predecessor by appointing a new deputy commissioner to work alongside Simon Entwisle to help shape and implement the future of the organisation and information rights.
The move comes just three months after Christopher Graham hinted at a potential dearth of senior data protection experts willing to join the ICO after admitting he had abandoned his search for two deputy commissioners – to replace the Smiths, David and Graham – due to a lack of suitable candidates.
Director of freedom of information Graham Smith and director of data protection David Smith both left in recent months, forcing the ICO to move to a more collective model of leadership and a much larger senior management board.
Enwisle, who joined the ICO in October 2004, was eventually promoted to deputy commissioner and deputy chief executive. Meanwhile, Steve Wood was handed the role of interim deputy commissioner.
Now the hunt is on for a permanent replacement for what Denham describes as “a challenging job”. According to the blurb, the post-holder will to expected to draw heavily on their leadership and inspiration skills; ability to influence at a time of major change; command of technical and legislative issues; and their interest in, and commitment to, the information rights agenda.
Denham added: “Our work has never been so important. The ICO is the UK’s key regulator of internet – ensuring consumer trust in data flows is fundamental to the digital economy.
“I have been in my post for just seven weeks – and am already deeply engaged in the challenges and opportunities of data protection law reform, building new bridges with global partners, investigating data sharing between social media companies, and an organisational review to enhance our relevance in the face of massive technology, social and legislative change.”
More details about the role are available on the ICO website>
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