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London names first ever Chief Digital Officer

Mayor names former Ukie Head of Policy and Public Affairs Theo Blackwell in new role

London names first ever Chief Digital Officer

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has appointed Theo Blackwell as the UK capital's first ever Chief Digital Officer.

Blackwell has previously worked as a Cabinet Member for finance, technology and growth at Camden Council, and has more than 20 years of experience working in tech and digital.

He also worked for five years at UK games industry trade body Ukie as Head of Policy and Public Affairs.

Tech hub

Blackwell will play a key role in the Mayor’s plans to continue growing London as a global tech hub. He’ll be working with the Smart London Board to developer a new ‘Smart London Plan’, and will be responsible for building collaboration across London’s boroughs and businesses.

He’ll also be driving a digital transformation of the city’s public services and supporting new technological innovation.

“The new Chief Digital Officer post is an amazing opportunity to make our capital even more open to innovation, support jobs and investment and make our public services more effective,” said Blackwell.

“The pace of change over the next decade requires public services to develop a stronger relationship with the tech sector. Our purpose is to fully harness London's world-class potential to make our public services faster and more reliable at doing things we expect online, but also adaptable enough to overcome the capital's most complex challenges.”

Khan added: "I am determined to make London the world’s leading ‘smart city’ with digital technology and data at the heart of making our capital a better place to live, work and visit. We already lead in digital technology, data science and innovation and I want us to make full use of this in transforming our public services for Londoners and the millions of visitors to our great city.

"I am delighted to appoint Theo Blackwell as London’s first Chief Digital Officer, and I know he will use his experience working in the technology sector and developing public services to improve the lives of all Londoners."


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Craig Chapple is a freelance analyst, consultant and writer with specialist knowledge of the games industry. He has previously served as Senior Editor at PocketGamer.biz, as well as holding roles at Sensor Tower, Nintendo and Develop.