Digital Jersey has today announced that Frank Walker OBE, Jersey’s former Chief Minister, will take over as Chair at the end of this month, when current Chair Paul Masterton steps down.
Frank was previously Managing Director of the Guiton Group, a newspaper company which diversified into other industries, including IT, and was ultimately floated on the London Stock Exchange. He now serves on a number of company boards, including Andium Homes, a company set up to bring all Jersey's social housing stock up to Decent Homes Standard. Frank also chairs Jersey Choice Ltd., a company that exports Jersey grown plants to the U.K. and acts as trustee for Sanctuary Trust. Frank played a major role in the creation of Digital Jersey when he chaired the initial working group, which brought together members of industry and experts from around the world to establish the organisation and then chaired the Infrastructure Technical Action Group.
Tony Moretta, CEO of Digital Jersey, commented: “We have been extremely lucky to have our current Chair Paul Masterton, who was instrumental in setting up the Hub and developing the organisation from its infancy. He will be sorely missed. We are grateful for all the fantastic work he has done and wish him well in his new roles. We are however, delighted to welcome Frank back, following his time chairing the initial working group that was to become Digital Jersey. At a time when Jersey is facing many challenges which will impact the digital economy, from skills shortages, to egov and the potential changes that BREXIT will bring, Frank’s political and business experience will be invaluable to us.”
Paul Masterton, former Chair of Digital Jersey, commented: "I am honoured to have served Jersey in this capacity and proud of the growing contribution Digital Jersey is making on jobs, GVA, digital policy and the future direction of the island. Establishing a new organisation has been immensely rewarding and I am confident that under Tony’s inspired leadership Digital Jersey will increasingly position the island for success in the digital world. I extend my sincere thanks for the excellent support from our many stakeholders and especially to our board members, past and present, for their guidance and commitment.”
Assistant Chief Minister, Senator Philip Ozouf, with responsibility for Digital, commented: "At a time when we are facing significant political challenges, both at home and internationally, investment in our digital economy is more essential than ever, to protect our existing industries and to create new ones. Someone with the Former Chief Minister’s experience, both in government and in business, will add strategic depth and significance to the work being done by Digital Jersey. I look forward to collaborating with him and the rest of the board on the next steps in our plan to make Jersey truly digital.”
Frank Walker OBE, new Chair of Digital Jersey, added: “'It is a privilege to be succeeding Paul Masterton, who has done a great job in leading Digital Jersey this far. I have long believed the development of Jersey into a world leading digital community is essential to our future economic success and since my time chairing the initial working groups which ultimately led to the formation of Digital Jersey, I have taken an active interest in the organisation and the industry members. We have some incredibly innovative and smart businesses and people in the technology sector here in Jersey, and it is clear that we need to support their growth and help all of us in Jersey to become lead players in our use of IT. With the continuing conflict between the need for economic growth and the need to control the population, productivity is key and only state of the art IT throughout our business sectors and in Government can deliver it. Digital is vital to our future and I look forward to the opportunity of helping to build upon the progress already made."
