Incoming tech leader Andy Nice will be accountable for the distressed program to change the Horizon IT system at the heart of the Post Office scandal – and a brand-new non-executive director for innovation is on the method too
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The Post Office is generating a brand-new innovation leader as it waits for extra federal government financing for its struggling program to change the questionable Horizon IT system at the heart of the scandal that saw numerous innocent subpostmasters prosecuted for phantom accounting losses.
The organisation's chief change officer, Chris Brocklesby, is leaving on 6 September at the end of his 1 year agreement, and will be prospered on an interim basis by Andy Nice, previously improvement director at Camelot, the business that ran the National Lottery up until January 2024. Great starts on 23 August.
The Post Office's present interim chair, Nigel Railton, was formerly president of Camelot.
The business is likewise looking for a non-executive director with a particular remit to supervise innovation. An advert for the function stated the Post Office is “searching for a knowledgeable leader who brings a performance history in developing, establishing and providing intricate massive digital programs including brand-new system application”.
Among the greatest obstacles for the inbound IT chief will be the program to change Horizon, the retail and accounting system that played a basic function in the Post Office scandal. Subpostmasters were implicated of accounting losses that a 2018/19 High Court case showed were brought on by bugs in Horizon.
Unmatched legislation passed in May exonerated numerous victims of the scandal.
“Chris Brocklesby joined us on a 1 year agreement and because time has actually assisted improve our innovation function, offering a strong structure for the work to change Horizon and establishing the broader organization for long-lasting success. Operating in partnership with postmasters, we have actually just recently broadened our pilots for the intro of a brand-new IT system to 5 branches and have actually been showcasing the system straight to postmasters in their regional area,” stated a Post Office representative.
Computer system Weekly exposed in May that the Post Office has actually asked HM Treasury for almost ₤ 1bn in additional money to money the task to establish a replacement for Horizon. The overall expense will be ₤ 1.1 bn– a substantial boost on the ₤ 180m that had actually initially been anticipated when the job started in 2021.
The brand-new system was because of be finished in 2025, however will now not be completely in location till 2030. Provider Fujitsu is most likely to get another five-year agreement worth as much as ₤ 180m to continue assistance for Horizon.
“Earlier in 2024, Post Office sent a long-lasting demand to the Department for Business and Trade to make sure financing is readily available to continue financial investment in changing Horizon,” stated the Post Office representative.
