Ger Baron reflects on twelve years as Amsterdam's IT chief
Ger Baron (48) is stepping down after twelve years as the City of Amsterdam's first chief technology officer (CTO). Within the Stopera, he was known as a maverick who wanted to modernize the city with new technology. In his role, he was responsible for the capital's digital direction.
In a look back at his career, Baron speaks candidly about the challenges he faced. He was involved in major projects and complex IT systems within the municipal organization. According to Baron, the work was sometimes very complicated because technological innovation does not always go hand in hand with the bureaucracy of a large city.
An important learning moment for Baron was the Afis project, a system for municipal administration. He admits that he and his team should have been more critical in the past. "With Afis, we should have said more firmly: don't do this!" says the departing IT chief. With this, he emphasizes the importance of honesty and courage when making major decisions about IT projects.
After twelve years, Baron looks back on a period full of changes. He has tried to make the City of Amsterdam more digital and efficient. Although not everything went perfectly, he says he has learned a lot about how technology and policy can reinforce each other.
With Baron's departure, an era comes to an end for the city's digital department. The city will now have to look for a successor who can continue the established course of technological innovation.