New Information Commission begins to take shape

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) recently announced the appointment of seven non-executive board members to the new Information Commission. A key milestone in this year’s transition from an Information Commissioner’s Office to a Commission.

The DSIT also launched applications for a Chair of the Board, with applications closing on 19 August. But with the ink barely dry on these announcements, in swept a new Prime Minster who scrapped the DSIT. Government oversight of data protection and the ICO has now moved back to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), where it was until 2013.

The seven NEDs will play a key role in providing strategic leadership, oversight and accountability to the Commission. Unsurprisingly they’ve all previously held senior leadership and/or NED roles before Their experience ranges from publishing, broadcasting, asset management, corporate governance and public policy, through to science, innovation and technology. Two appointees previously held senior roles at Ofcom and IBM.

Also joining the Board is Paul Arnold in his role as Chief Executive Officer and Accounting Officer, with responsibility for operations and executing strategy. Arnold commented on the NED appointments saying: “These appointments will ensure the new Board immediately benefits from a wide range of skills and experience, strengthening our strategic leadership and oversight.”

Charles Ping, Director Winterberry Group commented; “I was always taught that good non exec appointments either fulfil the role of policing or of expertise. The ICO has an intimidatingly broad remit and whilst I’m sure that all the NEDs are individually very good people, I would have thought that experience in the commercial use of data would have been better represented.”

Robert Bond, Senior Counsel at Privacy Partnership Law and an Industry Commissioner at the Data & Marketing Commission, noted; “Whilst the Board members bring a range of experience it is surprising that none of them have deep experience of data protection issues. The Chair of the Board and the new Board members have their work cut out.”

The appointments potentially risk there being insufficient knowledge to effectively scrutinise strategy and subject matter related decisions, and perhaps the inability to spot when something doesn’t quite add up.

We’ll now have to wait and see who is brave enough to take on the role as the Chair. If this appeals, there’s still time to apply… here.