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New Mexico Taps IT Veteran Raja Sambandam as Acting CIO

John Salazar stepped down from his position as chief information officer of New Mexico in July for personal reasons. Raja Sambandam, an IT veteran, has been named the state's acting CIO.

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The New Mexico state Capitol in Santa Fe.
David Kidd/Governing
Former New Mexico CIO John Salazar has been replaced by acting CIO Raja Sambandam.

Sambandam brings over two decades of experience in IT and business to the role. Before his new position, he was chief risk and security officer for the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, where he led the agency's internal audit function, among other duties.

Prior to his stint with New Mexico, he served as vice president and director of technology and operational audit for Vantiv, now known as Worldpay/FIS.

Appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in March 2020, Salazar submitted a letter of resignation in July stating that he was stepping down to take care of his wife, who fractured her leg.

As CIO, Salazar worked with the state’s Department of Information Technology to modernize New Mexico’s IT infrastructure and increase broadband connectivity, along with other IT initiatives.

Salazar’s last day in office was July 30.