Kansas names new chief information technology officer

Phil Wittmer will become the next chief information technology officer for Kansas starting Aug. 10.

Currently, Wittmer is the president of Lead-It LLC, an IT strategy and investment firm, according to a July 23 release.

“Phil will bring a unique perspective to the role of the CITO,” Gov. Sam Brownback said. “I am pleased he is bringing his extensive experience in managing IT systems to serve the citizens of Kansas.”

Prior to his time at Lead-It, Wittmer spent more than a year as the chief information officer for Polsinelli Shughart in Kansas City, Missouri. Prior to that, he was a program director and partner for CSC Consulting.

Wittmer also worked as the CIO and vice president for TV Guide magazine, and was vice president of Koch Development Service for Koch Industries. He also worked in IT for Aramark and Pizza Hut.

When Wittmer takes the position, he will inherit control of all of Kansas’ executive branch information technology operations. He will work alongside the CITOs of the legislative and judicial branches, and the state’s chief information technology architect.

He’ll also inherit responsibility for the state’s $235 million IT budget, according to a 2015 Deltek GovWin budget analysis.

Wittmer replaces Jim Clark, who worked in the position in an interim capacity while he was the secretary of the state’s Department of Administration. Clark announced his retirement earlier this year. Brownback also announced that Sarah Shipman would succeed Clark as administration department secretary. The last full-time Kansas CITO, Anthony Schlinsog, stepped down in October.

Kansas’ Office of Information Technology Services did not respond to StateScoop’s requests for additional comment.