HMRC has announced the departure of Mark Dearnley, the IT specialist hired to oversee its transition from the outsourced Aspire contract and move to digital tax accounts, who will leave his post of chief digital and information officer (CDIO) in September, when his contract ends
The news comes just days after a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which flagged up concerns that HMRC’s move to a new model of IT provision was a significant undertaking ‘which will require firm and consistent leadership’.
The report stated: ‘HMRC now plans to take crucial decisions in 2018 on the long-term IT model it will operate from 2020. It also comes amid a huge overhaul of the HMRC IT system to accommodate the move towards digital tax accounts for business and individuals, which is set to be rolled out by 2018.
‘We remain concerned that HMRC may struggle to integrate different services from different providers. As we have seen from elsewhere in government, one of the main factors that determines the success of complex programmes such as this is the quality and stability of their leadership.’
Mike Potter, HMRC’s current director of digital transformation, will lead the CDIO group following Dearnley’s announcement, and HMRC says it will begin recruitment for a new CDIO lead very shortly.
Dearnley, who joined HMRC in October 2013 from Vodafone on a three-year fixed contract, said: ‘I joined HMRC with the remit to transform its IT, create new digital services for customers and oversee the smooth transition from the £800m a year Aspire IT contract.
‘We have replaced our outdated internal IT, launched digital tax accounts for individuals and businesses, and have successfully concluded negotiations to dismantle the Aspire IT contract, taking more direct control of the design and delivery of our digital technology services at huge cost savings for HMRC.
‘We have also built one of the strongest digital technology teams in the world and I am confident that they will continue to deliver HMRC’s IT transformation at pace.’
Jon Thompson, HMRC chief executive, said: ‘Mark brought incredible energy, enthusiasm and commitment to his role, delivering everything asked of him at impressive pace.’
Potter, who takes on the CDIO role on an interim basis, joined HMRC in November 2014 as director of digital transformation, and has led the design and delivery of digital tax accounts for customers.
He was previously director of business transformation at NHS Blood and Transplant, and director of programmes and projects at the Environment Agency. Prior to joining the Civil Service in 2007, Potter worked in various roles in the private sector, including several years at Boots.
