Whitehall has appointed a successor to e-Envoy Alex Alan who stepped down last October. Andrew Pinder has been given the job, on a permanent basis, following open competition for the civil service post.

Pinder worked for 18 years in the Inland Revenue, before moving to the private sector, working for the Prudential Corpopration and Citibank. Leaving Citibank in 1999 he has been involved in new technology related start-ups, as a partner in a venture capital firm, as well as carrying out a number of management consultancy assignments for government, including work on UKonline.

The prime minister, Tony Blair, said: "We are determined to meet the goals of our UKonline campaign, putting this country at the forefront of the knowledge economy. Andrew can play a leading role in achieving that."