Oracle VP appointed Colorado CIO

Last week, Governor John Hickenlooper named Kristin Russel to the Secretary of Technology and Chief Information Officer spot. Russel will be joining the administration from Oracle where she currently works as Vice President of Global IT Service Operations at Oracle. Russel has been working in technology operations management for the last 15 years. Russel will be responsible for ensuring IT security and managing the state’s computer networks and data centers.

The appointment is also notable because it reinstates Secretary of Technology as a post in the administration. The post last existed in the Owens administration. It appears that the post was revived to add an economic development component to Russell’s portfolio. As Secretary, Russel will be responsible for promoting Colorado’s growing tech sector and will work to bring new business into the state.

“Kristin Russell understands what technology companies need and how they fit into our state’s economic recovery,” Hickenlooper said. “Colorado has one of the highest concentrations of technology workers outside of Silicon Valley. Kristin will play a key role in our efforts to attract and expand our technology sector while also streamlining and improving technology services in the state.”