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GDS denim brigade flees GOV.UK after Web2.0rhea MESSIAH Bracken departs

Nothing whatsoever to do with imminent cuts, shurely?

A number of key Government Digital Service management bods resigned from their posts today, a little over a week since boss Mike Bracken confirmed his surprise departure.

It has been speculated that the bloated headcount of nearly 700 full-time employees and contractors will be slimmed down in the autumn, when GDS could face a major reduction in its budget.

A new broom has been brought in to lead GDS, although Stephen Foreshew-Cain (who undoubtedly deserves the moniker of "Fo Sho") said in a blog post that he had been quietly running the service for the past year now, in the role of COO.

But he's not doing it alone – even though GDS boyz-2-men Tom Loosemore, Russell Davies and Ben Terrett all quit the service today.

On Monday, GDS head of user research Leisa Reichelt said she was also leaving the pretty (useless) government website maker.

Fo Sho's emergence from the shadows appeared to have helped steer the "leadership and direction (and stickers)" of Loosemore & Co out of the door, after the trio worked for years at GDS.

Liam Maxwell remains as CTO, while Chris Ferguson – of Verify infamy – has been promoted to head of the GDS digital group (and yes, that does mean his job title is now Government Digital Service Digital Group chief).

No doubt, we'll hear of more departures in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, if any of you exiting GDS fancy spilling the beans in confidence, do get in touch. ®

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