Mayor de Blasio today appointed Anne Roest as commissioner of the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications. With more than 25 years of experience managing large-scale information technology projects and operations, Roest has a track record modernizing government technology, creating a more transparent and open government, and fostering partnerships to improve government efficiency and service delivery.
“Anne represents so much of what is great about our technology sector. From her early days as a COBOL programmer at Fidelity Investments to her recent work overseeing IT operations across all of the state’s public safety operations, she’s risen up through the ladders through hard work, vision and steadfast leadership,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I’m thrilled to have Anne as part of our technology team as we look to build a more transparent and accessible government for all New Yorkers.”
As commissioner, Roest will be responsible for maintaining the foundational IT infrastructure and systems that touch every aspect of city life—from public safety to human services, to education and economic development—crossing the full spectrum of governmental operations. Roest will also oversee the city’s telecommunications franchises, including the creation of a new citywide network of Internet hotspots that will constitute one of the largest free Wi-Fi networks in the country, greatly expanding access to broadband connectivity across the five boroughs.
East Bronx Councilman James Vacca, chair of the council’s Committee on Technology, weighed in on the appointment:
“New York City’s tech sector is critical to our present and future growth, and with over 25 years of experience in the industry, Anne Roest is a terrific choice to lead the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications,” said Vacca. ” I’m very excited to work with her to create a more transparent government and ensure that New York continues to be a pioneer in technological innovation.”
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