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Chief Technology Officer Jon Pope to pursue new challenges;
Dave Tolman named interim leader

Jon Pope, who has served as ITD’s chief technology officer the past four years, will leave his position Friday and return to Adelaide, Australia, where he has family and a owns a small farm.

He will be replaced on an interim basis by Dave Tolman, who served in a similar capacity when Pope was chosen to head ITD’s information technology section in 2007. Chief Administrative Officer Mike Golden announced the changes today.

“I want to thank Jon for his service and leadership the past four years,” Golden said. “Jon has helped ETS grow during an important period of transition. We wish him well in his new pursuits.”

Pope came to the department after three years with the Idaho Department of Lands where he held a similar position. ITD’s technology program continued to evolve under Pope’s leadership, changing from Information Technology Services to ETS and significantly expanding its commitment to customers.

Many of the important changes have taken place in the background during that time, Pope said. The department introduced a new business model and significantly upgraded system reliability across the board, he added. He is confident the momentum will continue under new leadership.

Pope will leave the U.S. Saturday and somewhere in transit will quietly celebrate his 47th birthday, which is Sunday. With crossing the international date line, he might miss the birthday entirely.

He returns to the country where he worked for British Petroleum as a chief information officer. A holder of dual citizenship, Pope owns a 70-acre farm that is home to a herd of Alpacas near Adelaide in southern Australia.

Eventually he wants to return to a management position in information technology, perhaps as a consultant. He also anticipates a return to Idaho somewhere in the future. His parents live in Eagle.

“With Dave’s management abilities and previous experience, ETS will be in good hands during the transition,” Golden said. He expects to begin the open competitive process as soon as possible.