Credit: Adobe Stock

The Information Commissioner’s Office has appointed Stephen Almond as director of technology and innovation, and plans to further boost its team of tech experts.

In 2018, the regulator recruited Simon McDougall as its first-ever executive director for technology policy and innovation. He has since risen to a deputy commissioner-level position, and in his place comes Almond, who joins from the World Economic Forum. 

The wider Technology and Innovation Directorate – which has worked on projects related to the data-privacy implications of the contact-tracing programme and the public-sector use of machine learning – will be further boosted by an ongoing hiring programme.

Related content

• Information commissioner’s term extended to allow successor recruitment
• Users will have more control over personal data under new regulatory regime, minister pledges
• Privacy Shield: government working with ICO to ‘update guidance as soon as possible’

“Technology and innovation is a high priority area for the ICO, with the directorate currently undertaking a recruitment drive,” the regulator said. “The ICO’s technology department is looking to recruit people who are passionate about protecting and embedding citizens’ rights in a modern data-driven economy.”

McDougall, who sits at the directorate’s head, said that Almond’s “previous experience will be invaluable as the ICO works to support a secure and thriving digital economy in the UK”.

He added: “The [technology and innovation] department is central to ensuring information rights regulation keeps pace with technological advancements. The team continues to grow, and I would encourage anyone with technology experience to visit our recruitment pages.”