Government CIO takes up job with Amor

The man who is credited with reforming the UK Government’s Information Communication and Technology strategy to act as a strategic advisor, Joe Harley, is now advising one of the companies that will be touting for government business.

Harley retired from the civil service earlier this year and has many contacts within the Government and Civil Service. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said Harley had been “instrumental in building reform and modernising” government IT throughout his career.

He appears to have been lured out of retirement by the Glasgow based Amor Group. Amor is one of the companies that will be trying to peddle business technology to government departments.

Harley’s official role is non-executive advisor.

John Innes, Chief Executive Officer of Amor Group was reported to be very happy to have attracted someone with the reputation of Joe Harley to Amor Group.

“A man of his calibre will be a great strategic addition to our company and his appointment demonstrates the status of Amor Group in today’s market,” he said in a statement.

Harley’s role will be to work with Amor in a “strategic capacity” to drive further growth in our business across public services, energy and transport sectors.”

Harley said in a statement that Amor Group is a new breed of companies helping organisations to improve their business performance and to manage their ICT budgets.

He added that businesses are looking to more agile, flexible firms who can act quickly and save costs whilst not lowering service levels.

Last year Amor signed a £18.5 million contract with the Scottish Government to run its eProcurement service and and is starting to get some sales in International markets with its passenger tracking technology being installed at Dubai Airport.

It has also scored a number of wins with its Energy team in the US.