Indian-American Digital Expert ‘Sree Sreenivasan’ gets NYC’s Top Digital Job

New York City (TIP): Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday that he will appoint Sree Sreenivasan, an eminent Indian American digital media expert, the former Chief Digital Officer of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Columbia University, as the city’s new Chief Digital Officer, following the departure of Jessica Singleton.

Sreenivasan was appointed by de Blasio to the Commission on Public Information and Communication last fall.

Sreenivasan has also served as the first Chief Digital Officer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the first Chief Digital Officer of Columbia University, and has also been a mayoral appointee on the Commission on Public Information and Communication (COPIC) since October 2015, where he assisted the public in obtaining access to City information, and helped develop strategies for the use of new communications technologies to improve access to, and distribution of, City data.

As Chief Digital Officer, Sreenivasan will work to increase access to City-led technology initiatives, focus on outreach to the tech community, and direct citywide digital policy. He will begin his new role this fall.

“To move our city’s digital ecosystem into the 21st century, we need to ensure our city’s resources are at the fingertips of every New Yorker. With Sree Sreenivasan’s wealth of experience, I am confident that he will work to promote transparency, access, and progressive values with our digital tools, helping spread access across the five boroughs,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“It’s a real honor for me to serve as the CDO of the world’s greatest city,” said Chief Digital Officer Sree Sreenivasan. “There are so many opportunities to extend the Mayor’s Digital Playbook, collaborate closely across various sectors and help bring more startups here. I will draw on what I’ve learned working in four critical NYC industries: education, media, arts and culture, and nonprofits, and look forward to building on the great work of my predecessor Jessica Singleton and her predecessor, Rachel Haot.”

In his new role, Sreenivasan will work to increase access to city-led technology initiatives, focus on outreach to the tech community and direct citywide digital policy.

He will also direct the Office of Digital Strategy (NYC Digital) to launch digital products that encourage civic engagement, increase government transparency, and support New York City’s thriving tech ecosystem.

An immigrant from India, Sreenivasan was born in Japan and received a Bachelor’s degree in History from St Stephen’s College in Delhi.