The government has named tech entrepreneur Henry de Zoete – once a key ally of leading figures in the previous Conservative administration – in the civil service role of AI and investment adviser.
A familiar figure in Whitehall and Westminster, de Zoete (pictured above) was previously a special adviser working with then-education secretary Michael Gove from 2010 to 2013, before becoming a key figure in the Vote Leave campaign, serving as digital director. In both roles he worked closely Dominic Cummings – and the two men returned to the government scene in the months and years following the 2019 election.
Cummings was chief adviser to prime minister Boris Johnson from 2019 to 2020, while de Zoete was a non-executive director of the Cabinet Office from 2020 to 2024, and also took on a post as top AI adviser to Rishi Sunak from 2023 to 2024. This latter posting was a civil service position.
It has now been revealed that, as of this month, he has been appointed to a similar role. In his new brief as AI and investment adviser – which is based in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology – de Zoete will be tasked with supporting government’s ambitions of attracting inward investment and helping cultivate growth of UK tech players. To do so, the former top Tory adviser will engage with investors and business leaders.
It is understood that de Zoete will also be asked to represent the UK on international forums, and will play a role in helping to inform government AI policy.
His new civil service appointment is a part-time role. PublicTechnology asked DSIT for any available additional information on the how many hours de Zoete will work, and details of his salary or civil service grade – as well as whether the posting was publicly advertised and whether any other candidates were considered.
While this information was not provided, the tech department stated that the appointment had complied with the relevant civil service recruitment rules and processes.
A government spokesperson added: “Henry de Zoete is one of the UK’s leading voices on AI and is a former successful tech entrepreneur and angel investor. In this new role, he will help attract high-value investment to the UK and maintain the UK’s AI leadership.”
As well as his government and political roles, in between times de Zoete founded or led businesses focused on consumer savings, including The Big Deal and Look After My Bills. As chief executive of the latter firm, he also achieved note by attracting one of the most valuable deals ever seen on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, securing a £120,000 investment in return for an equity stake of just 3%.
In his newly updated GOV.UK profile, de Zoete is also described as “a tech entrepreneur and angel investor” – who has also “previously served on the board of grassroots campaigning organisation 38 Degrees as well as Hornby plc”, the model trains manufacturer.
In a post on X, he said: “Pleased to be rejoining the civil service as investment and AI adviser in DSIT. As an exited founder and angel investor in over a hundred start-ups, I’m hopeful I can help make Britain the place for tech and AI.”
Alongside his new part-time DSIT role, de Zoete said that he will continue to work as a visiting fellow for the University of Oxford, and as a board member of government body the Oak National Academy.
“This government has made great strides on AI and tech,” he added. “Excited to get going and help!”
His new appointment was welcomed by Josh Simons, the Labour MP for Makerfield and, until recently, the minister with responsibility for digital identity. Also writing on X, he described de Zoete “exactly what we need more of”, and said that he “will be brilliant in” DSIT.
“How Britain harnesses AI for productivity and public good has MUCH further to run,” Simons added. “We’re at [a very] early inflection point of – somewhat hysterical – political and policy debates about it. Government will be richer for Henry’s involvement.”