Agarwal to be California's tech services director

California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed P.K Agarwal, a familiar face in the technology community, to serve as the state's director of technology services.

Agarwal, age 58, previously was a vice president with Dallas-based Affiliated Computer Services Inc. He has more than 15 years' experience as a chief information officer, serving three years as executive vice president and CIO for NIC Inc., a provider of Web portal services.

From 1996 to 2000 Agarwal was CIO for the California Franchise Tax Board, and from 1984 to 1996 he was chief of the Office of Information Services within the California General Services Department. Agarwal began his career as a management consultant and customer manager for EDS Corp. from 1975 to 1978.

Agarwal's appointment, which was announced Sept. 28, requires California Senate confirmation. He will be paid a salary of $123,255.

Schwarzenegger said that Agarwal shares his vision of ensuring an efficient, effective and responsive state government, and that Agarwal will lead a consolidation and modernization effort of California's IT systems.

The Department of Technology Services was established by Schwarzenegger in July to consolidate the Stephen P. Teale and Health and Human Services data centers with the Department of General Services Office of Network Services, under the jurisdiction of the State and Consumer Services Agency.

The Department of Technology Services serves the common technology needs of executive branch agencies throughout California.