ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State has a new chief information officer (CIO) and director of the New York State Office of Information Technology Services. Dru Rai will lead the state’s ongoing digital transformation and will work with state agencies to create more seamless digital interactions with state government, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul […]
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ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State has a new chief information officer (CIO) and director of the New York State Office of Information Technology Services.
Dru Rai will lead the state’s ongoing digital transformation and will work with state agencies to create more seamless digital interactions with state government, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
He succeeds Angelo (Tony) Riddick, who retired earlier this year.
The agency is charged by law with protecting the state’s systems from cyber intrusion and attack and is part of the team that operates the Joint Security Operations Center (JSOC) in Brooklyn, which has fostered a unique “whole of state” approach to cybersecurity, Hochul’s office said.
“Under Dru Rai’s direction, we will continue to innovate and grow to meet both the challenges and opportunities of this new digital age. Since the pandemic, our state has moved swiftly to develop new applications, new processes and a new way of thinking that seeks to meet New Yorkers where they are and where they will be. It is exciting to welcome someone of Dru’s caliber to this important role,” Hochul said in the Sept. 27 announcement.
Rai most recently served as chief digital and information officer of Quaker Houghton Company, which is headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He previously served as global CIO for the Ball Corporation, DuPont Coatings, and GE Advanced Material (a division of GE) and began his career at Ernst & Young.
A graduate of GB Pant University in India and the University of Connecticut, Rai also led and volunteered as the CIO for Goodwill Industries International and the American Cancer Society, helping each organization set their digital strategies and make technology-operational improvements.
“Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, I look forward to building a great team that will work cohesively to achieve the best possible digital solutions for all of our stakeholders,” Rai said. “We will lean on the expertise of ITS to bring about a digital transformation that will improve the user experience and strengthen the trust between New Yorkers and their government. And we will promote collaboration across state agencies to ensure alignment with the state’s strategic IT objectives, common technology solutions that work not just for some but for all, and a commitment to listening to our partners during every step of the journey from idea to delivery.”
As part of the overall transition at ITS, the state’s IT service provider, Jennifer Lorenz, will assume the executive deputy CIO role and work alongside Rai to provide the “strategic IT vision.” Lorenz served as acting CIO for the last six months while an extensive, nationwide search was conducted for the agency’s top role.
ITS is directly involved in a number of important state initiatives. They include the effort to digitize services; further enhance the state’s cyber posture; improve the overall customer experience; create a “One ID” system for residents to access services across all state agencies; build out statewide data and privacy programs; and fortify the IT workforce following the COVID-19 pandemic, Hochul’s office said.