Wisconsin Names First CIO

Wisconsin Gov. Scott McCallum appointed Rebecca Heidepriem as the state's first chief information officer in a major step to unify the state's IT management functions under a cabinet-level CIO.

Heidepriem, who previously worked for Xerox Corp. of Stamford, Conn., said her immediate focus will be to establish a long-term strategy that allows for better management of technology investments, improved information management and more efficient and faster electronic services to citizens.

The Department of Electronic Government will be created through reallocation of existing IT staff across state government. Wisconsin spends $350 million annually on IT, the governor's office
said.