In her new role, Givens will manage risks related to information privacy laws and compliance regulations and build a strategic statewide privacy program to define, develop, maintain and implement privacy practices and processes.
Prior to her appointment as CPO, Givens spent more than a decade supporting federal privacy programs, and brings expertise in creating, assessing and maturing privacy programs.
Examples of the federal agencies she worked with include the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Government Publishing Office and the U.S. Department of Defense.
As for the role itself, the department said that it was created to allow for stronger authority to make privacy decisions and protect the interests of North Carolina residents, businesses and visitors.
“Security is critical, and everything we do has to be built on the foundation of cybersecurity and privacy,” Weaver said in a release. “We have a tremendous responsibility to ensure that we are keeping identities and data secure and private.”
As for other changes within the department, Dan Kempton, the state’s chief technology officer, switched titles to senior technology adviser as part of a larger functional realignment. However, his duties remain the same, according to a department spokesperson.
“The department went through a functional realignment,” said NCDIT Deputy Communications Director Beth Gargan. “The new CIO is taking the organization in different priorities, but Dan is doing the same work and didn’t feel the need to have the title of chief technology officer.”
