Government’s Building Digital UK Agency Appoints New Chair

The Government’s Digital Secretary, Nadine Dorries MP, has appointed Simon Blagden CBE to be the new chair of their Building Digital UK (BDUK) executive agency, which has responsibility for delivering faster broadband and mobile networks across the nation (e.g. the £5bn Project Gigabit scheme and the £1bn Shared Rural Network).

The government has been hunting for a Chair since April, when BDUK was converted into an executive agency in order to benefit from more operational autonomy (here). Simon has 30 years’ of experience in the IT, telecoms and digital industry, with 14 years of that being spent as the non-executive Chairman at Fujitsu Telecommunications UK.

Simon currently serves as non-executive Chairman of management consultancy Larkspur International and, since last year, has also been acting as the Chair of the Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification (TSCD) Advisory Council, although his new role at BDUK will require him to step down from the latter.

The appointment is for a term of 4-years and a remuneration of £80,000 per annum, although Simon will only need to do it for two days per week.

Chair of BDUK, Simon Blagden CBE, said:

“I’m pleased to be taking on the role as Chair of BDUK at this exciting time for the telecoms sector. I am determined to use my experience gained through more than 30 years in the industry to maximise BDUK’s potential and to advance the pace and ambition of our delivery.

Communities from Perth in Scotland to Padstow in Cornwall are already benefiting from gigabit-capable connections to their homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and libraries. My priority will be for BDUK to build on these foundations and deliver the digital infrastructure that is vital for people, communities and businesses across the UK.”

The new role will place him at the helm of the executive agency overseeing Project Gigabit’s broadband rollout and various mobile network projects.