New Philadelphia CIO to lead technology strategy

Melissa Scott has been promoted to become the City of Philadelphia’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead the Office of Innovation and Technology and to support public technology and innovation.

Scott has worked for the city since 2015 as an Information Technology Director and Information Technology Project Manager. She told Cities Today she applied to become CIO as she wanted to take the opportunity to spearhead digital transformation initiatives.

“[Becoming CIO] enables me to make valuable contributions by potentially revolutionising city services and creating a more responsive and efficient municipal government, all while continuously learning from new experiences along the way,” she said.

As CIO, Scott will lead all aspects of the city’s information security with digital accessibility, and innovative practices as main priorities. She added that although the city had made “great strides” in modernisation and efficiency it still had some remaining work.

“There are also many initiatives in our Strategic Plan related to recruitment, better hiring processes, and retention strategies,” she said. “We are continuing to increase and build relationships with local universities and colleges to create talent pipelines so we can continue hiring great talent within the city of Philadelphia.”

Part of this plan, and her main priorities, include improving customer service, further modernising public safety technology and creating economic opportunity for all through recruitment and diversity efforts.

The step up from IT Director to CIO means Scott will play a more strategic role rather than overseeing the smooth functioning of daily technology platforms and operations. As CIO she said she will ensure that the technology strategy aligns with the administration’s overall goals, fosters a culture of innovation, and takes charge of driving digital transformation initiatives.

Cherelle Parker, Mayor of Philadelphia, said in welcoming Scott to the new position: “My vision for the Parker Administration is a smart, interconnected government, where technology and innovation help produce better, more efficient delivery of services to every resident of Philadelphia. Given Melissa’s breadth of experience in IT, I’m confident we’ve found the right person for the job. I’m proud to welcome Melissa Scott to our team.”

Image: City of Philadelphia