Dru Rai, after serving as the New York State chief information officer (CIO) for the past three years, has announced his departure from the role.
Announced Sept. 21, Rai’s resignation is effective immediately, leaving the state to begin the search for a replacement. Executive Deputy CIO Jenson Jacob has been appointed acting CIO for the time being until a permanent replacement is found.
Rai has served as CIO and director of the New York State Office of IT Services (ITS) since September 2023, accepting the public role following decades of working in the private sector. Prior to joining the office, he served as chief digital officer at a chemical company.
Following his appointment, Rai led the charge on making significant digital transformations for state agencies and municipal systems. The work largely consisted of modernizing IT systems and implementing updated cybersecurity measures, ensuring greater security, transparency and communication.
Rai’s greatest successes can be attributed to his efforts to close the gap between agency interoperation. During his tenure, ITS adopted a dedicated-agency service model which embedded staff in agencies or small clusters of agencies. These integrations enabled ITS to gain better insights, accelerate response times and provide customized support for all IT needs.
His retirement from public service has been attributed to focusing on his personal life and well-being, according to a brief announcement posted on LinkedIn.
Photos courtesy of the Marije Kouyzer from Pexels and the State of New York (inset)
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