Cisco UK CEO To Chair Technology Strategy Board

Phil Smith, CEO of Cisco UK and Ireland is in the frame to head the government’s Technology Strategy Board.

Smith is, according to the press release, actually the “preferred candidate” to become ” Chair of the Governing Board of the Technology Strategy Board” – but will basically advise government policy on technology innovation. Before taking the role, he has to go through a vetting process in line with government proposals to increase democratic scrutiny of anyone seeking a key public appointment. The House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee will hold a pre-appointment hearing on the 24 October to affirm his suitability.

Thirty Years Of IT Experience

Smith has a 30-year track record in the ICT industry, working for IBM and Philips Electronics before joining Cisco as a consultant in 1994. He is an advocate of technology and innovation to the Britain and Ireland’s business and political leaders, and already sits on a number of boards including Young Enterprise, e-Skills UK and the Employers Forum for Disability.

His predecessor in the role, Graham Spittle, CTO and vice president of IBM’s Software Group Europe, has been chairman for seven years and will step down at the end of November, having served in the role for both the advisory and executive Technology Strategy Board.

The board is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. It is business-led and is responsible for delivering a national technology strategy and advising on policies which relate to technology innovation and knowledge transfer. It operates across all sectors of the UK economy to stimulate innovation in those areas of technology which offer the greatest scope for boosting UK growth and productivity.