FDIC CIO on leave

Barry West, CIO at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, is on leave of an unspecified nature and is stepping down as president of the board at the Association For Federal Information Resources Management (AFFIRM).

The circumstances surrounding West’s changing roles are unclear.

Early in the day on June 4, West’s name was removed from the FDIC website directory and replaced with Acting Chief Information Officer Martin Henning, though by the end of the day West’s name had been restored and Henning’s removed.

FDIC spokeswoman Barbara Hagenbaugh told FCW that West was on leave for “personal reasons” but could not say when the leave had started, when it might be over or whether it was paid. Hagenbaugh said the removal of West’s name from the FDIC website was an “error,” though she confirmed that Henning was handling West’s workload while West is out of the office.

AFFIRM board member Stacy Riggs told FCW that West had completed one year as president and had planned to serve a second, but recently decided to step down when his first term ends this month. She added that he was an “awesome president” and said she knew nothing of his leave at FDIC. A spokeswoman for Potomac Resources Management, which manages AFFIRM, confirmed that elections had been held for new board positions and a new president would be announced June 17.

West has extensive experience in and out of government, having served as CIO at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Commerce. He also served as president of the American Council for Technology & Industry Advisory Council from 2003 to 2007. He started at the FDIC in December.

West did not respond to multiple inquiries seeking comment.