Government science and tech department, which now operates as the ‘digital centre’ for the civil service, has created two new senior roles at director general level, with interim appointments made

Government’s digital centre has created two new tech-focused roles at director general level, with interim appointments made to the posts respectively focused on artificial intelligence and tech infrastructure.

Amendments made to GOV.UK webpages this week reveal that, as of this month, Ollie Ilott is the interim director general for artificial intelligence at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. At the same time, Sarah Connolly has been named as DSIT’s interim director general for digital, technology and infrastructure.

Both the appointees have been, effectively, promoted into DG-level posts having previously held positions in the department in a similar field to their new senior roles.

Ilott was the first director of government’s AI Security Institute – which sits within DSIT and was established in late 2023.

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Connolly, meanwhile, has been the department’s director for digital infrastructure since January 2024.

Directors general sit one rung below permanent secretaries in the grading system of the senior civil service. The two appointments mean that DSIT now has five DGs, with the incoming duo joining: Freya Guinness, director general for corporate services; Alexandra Jones, director general for science, innovation and growth; and Emily Middleton, director general for digital centre design.

There is, as yet, little detail as the specific duties and remit of Ilott and Connolly.

PublicTechnology had contacted DSIT and was awaiting response at time of going to press.

Before joining the AISI, Ilott previously held positions including strategy leader for the Cabinet Office’s Covid Taskforce, and head of the domestic affairs team in Rishi Sunak’s Downing Street set-up.

Connolly has worked for DSIT – and, priorly, its predecessor the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – for a number of years, and has filled roles including director for security and online harms, and head of internet and international policy. Earlier in her career she worked for the Foreign Office and Home Office, and also worked as an advisor at the US State Department in Washington.