Job Title : Divisional director for ICT/head of business systems

Organization : The London Boroughs of Newham and Havering

Geoff Connell is a new addition to the CIO50 list for 2011, and has earned his place due to the work he has carried out in two east London boroughs as head of ICT at the borough of Newham and head of business systems at Havering.

In his role, Connell is responsible for delivering the technology and information management services that support a transformation in the way the two councils operate.

Initially responsible for Newham’s technology strategy, Connell took on the additional role with Havering in 2009. Since assuming the dual role, Connell has aligned the technology roadmaps of both organisations to improve service quality and reduce costs.

Connell also leads the ICT workstream for the East London Solutions project, which covers six councils looking to share services across the northeast London region.

Like many of his local government CIO colleagues, Connell is also involved with Socitm for which he is the chairman of the London branch.

Connell is also a board member of the Local CIO Council which works with the central government CIO council to align policies, standards and activities around technology.