Tech City Investment Organisation (TCIO) has announced the appointment of Benjamin Southworth as Deputy CEO and that Number 10 has set up an advisory group to provide strategy for the UK government’s work in the technology sector.
The new role of Deputy CEO appears to have a focus on events management for the Tech City cluster, not surprising as Southworth has experience with a number of tech start-ups and was one of the founders and organisers of Digital Sizzle, Don’t Pitch Me Bro and Silicon Drinkabout events in East London.
But it’s not all parties and gatherings, Southworth is also expected to ensure that the views of the community in this area are clearly communicated to policy-makers in Government and City Hall.
According to the TCIO’s blog, the role has been created in response to community feedback received at the publication of the TCIO Impact Report (a review of aims and achievements through the 2011-2012 fiscal year) asking for more events and opportunity to feedback to policy makers.
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The role is funded out of the existing TCIO budget and Southworth starts work next week. The organisation is also looking for a new CEO to replace Eric van der Kleij who will step down from the role later this year.
Tapping Tech City Advice
The afore-mentioned Advisory Group will be chaired by Rohan Silva, Senior Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister and includes many known names in the tech scene around the Capital.
The group includes representatives from across the tech industries found in the Tech City Cluster including Michael Acton Smith of MindCandy, Alex Asseilly of State, Courtney Boyd Myers formerly of The Next Web and now of General Assembly, Eileen Burbidge of Passion Capital and White Bear Yard, Stephen Caddick at UCL, Judith Clegg of Takeout, angel investor Sherry Coutu, Wendy Devolder of SkillsMatter, Ben Hammersley the Prime Minister’s Ambassador to Tech City, Victor Henning of Mendeley, Ian Hogarth and Pete Smith of Songkick, Tom Hulme of Ideo, Robin Klein of Index, Mike Lynch of Autonomy, Richard Moross of Moo, Nik Roope at Poke, Joanna Shields of Facebook, Kevin Sneader at McKinsey, Reshma Sohoni of Seedcamp, Luke Taylor at LBi, Matt Webb of Berg, Dylan Williams of Mother and representatives from the GLA and TCIO.
The Tech City Advisory Group aims to help shape the next phase of Government support for the cluster, with a focus on national policies to fulfill the PM’s vision that the UK should be the best place in the world for tech, government initiatives for the area and international investment opportunities. The first meeting is on July 25th 2012.
The Tech City Investment Organisation (TCIO) was set up by UKTI in April 2011 to support the growth of the tech cluster in East London, helping to make it Europe’s centre of innovation and the location of choice for tech and digital companies and investors.
Image Credit: osde8info
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