The Government Digital Service has named former One Login senior official Ash Smith as the director of GOV.UK, a role in which he will replace new interim CEO Christine Bellamy
A senior official whose previous roles include leadership posts focused on counter-terror and Brexit negotiations has been appointed to oversee the GOV.UK platform.
As of this month, Ash Smith has been named as director of GOV.UK – on an interim basis. The position is based in the Government Digital Service, where Smith most recently served as deputy director of the organisation’s work to deliver the new One Login system.
According to details of his new role published online: “The director of GOV.UK has responsibility for GOV.UK, the best place to find government services and information.”
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Smith take over this responsibility for these duties from Christine Bellamy, who was earlier this summer promoted from the GOV.UK director post to take over as interim chief executive of GDS.
Before arriving at the digital unit in 2020, Smith was employed by the former Department for Exiting the European Union as deputy director for negotiations strategy and coordination. Prior to that, he was head of elections funding at the Cabinet Office, and director of strategy by what was then called the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism – which is part of the Home Office.
According to his LinkedIn profile, earlier is his career Smith also spent six years at the Ministry of Defence, and three years based in Washington DC, as assistant head of technology at the British Embassy in the US capital city.
