Search begins for new Chief Information Officer

After more than three years in the position, Michael Kerntke is stepping down as Chief Information Officer.

Kerntke said he stepped down from the position to consider other career opportunities.

The CIO is responsible for setting the general tone and direction of the information technology infrastructure, programs, services and administration. According to Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Barry Feldman, he or she manages a department of over 100 employees and a budget of approximately $20 million per year.

Kerntke came to UConn in January 2001 as the Director of Customer Support and Applications Services and was appointed the CIO in July 2005, according to a mass e-mail sent to the UConn community.

Last Thursday, Feldman said that the search for Kerntke's replacement would probably begin within 30 days. A search committee comprised of various individuals from university communications will be chosen based on recommendations made by faculty. The committee will interview candidates and notify Feldman of their top three choices. Feldman will then interview those people to make the final choice.

Before the final decision is made, Feldman will consult with President Michael Hogan.

"I want him to be aware of and concur with the decision because he's my boss," Feldman said.

Feldman said they are hoping to find someone with technical vision, a strategic vision of the role of information technology within a major university, an excellent leader and a good communicator.

Kerntke will leave in late May. He intended to leave sooner, but agreed to stay to work on the Human Capital Management program, a major project he has been involved with. They are trying to create a more electronic personnel and payroll system that will use less paper than the current system.

"It's an effort to be more efficient," Feldman said.

According to the University Information Technology Services Web site, the project started in January 2006 and will continue through June 2008.

Starting today, David Martel will act as Interim CIO. Martel has held various positions during his 15 years at the university. He began as a senior analyst in 1993 and was promoted to assistant director of the center in 2000. In the fall of 2006, he became director of electronic communications. When the position was redefined six months later, he became the interim director of university communications and went on to become the permanent holder of that position.

Martel has no plans to turn his interim role into a permanent position, as he had done with the university communications job.

"I plan to return to my old position," he said. "I'm leaving university communications on temporary assignment."

As director of university communications, Martel has had the opportunity to work with UITS on a variety of technological projects, such as the new student website that was set up this year. He is looking forward to working with them on more projects in the future.

"I'm excited by this opportunity," he said.

Feldman said that Martel will probably serve for 6-8 months while the university searches for Kerntke's permanent replacement.