Kentucky CIO steps down following gubernatorial change
Kentucky Chief Information Officer James Fowler has stepped down following a change in the governor’s mansion.
Newly elected Gov. Matt Bevin’s press office confirmed to StateScoop Monday that Fowler has left his post as the state’s IT chief, though it’s unclear what kind of timetable exists for finding his replacement. Fowler told StateScoop he formally stepped down on Dec. 23.
Fowler’s decision to step away comes as Bevin, a Republican, takes the reins in the state after he won a close election to replace Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear.
The outgoing CIO headed Kentucky’s Commonwealth Office of Technology since July 2013, and helped lead a two-year long IT infrastructure consolidation effort that Fowler estimates saved the state roughly $12 million a year.
Fowler also devoted his time with the state to developing a “customer-focused culture” in the office and bringing aboard new IT staff to match that vision.
Moving forward, the state’s new CIO could be confronted with helping Bevin realize one of his campaign promises: to shut down the state-run health insurance exchange and transition to the federal marketplace.
