Former e-Envoy Pinder gets Becta job

Former e-Envoy Andrew Pinder has been appointed chair of the government agency which oversees the use of IT in schools and colleges.

Pinder will chair Becta, which earlier this week announced it was reviewing Microsoft's licensing programmes for education. Skills minister Phil Hope said in a statement: "Andrew was the Prime Minister's e-Envoy and has worked in both the private and public sectors in his career. He will play a key role in driving forward technology in the education agenda."

Pinder was e-Envoy from 2001 to 2004, when the post was replaced with government CIO - a post held until recently by Ian Watmore.

Pinder said the new role is a "great opportunity".

He said in a statement: "I firmly believe that technology is vital to the future of education not for its own sake but for the benefits it can bring to teachers and learners, and Becta has a key role to play. I'm really looking forward to working with the department, teachers, head teachers and industry."

Becta chief executive, Owen Lynch, welcomed the appointment and said in a statement: "Andrew Pinder's appointment is excellent news for Becta and the educational ICT agenda.

"Andrew clearly has a wealth of experience and skills that are highly relevant to Becta's critical role in the delivery of the government's education plans and its e-strategy for education."