Healthcare.gov gets a new IT boss

The Department of Health and Human Services announced former top Microsoft executive Kurt DelBene will succeed Jeff Zients as the leading manager overseeing operations of the Healthcare.gov website, according to MSNBC.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said she has confidence DelBene “will provide management expertise, operations oversight, and critical advice on additional enrollment channels, field operations, marketing and communications,” according to her recent blog post.

For at least the next six months, DelBene will work closely alongside Sebelius and other high-ranking officials from the Obama administration as they work to put an end to complex technical issues that have plagued the site since it’s Oct. 1 rollout, according to NBC News. 

“With his long career in the private sector, Kurt has the unique combination of skills and experience as an executive in the technology industry to manage a project the size and scope of HealthCare.gov,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), who is also Kurt DelBene’s wife and a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act. “I’ve long said that we need more people to enter public service who are focused on delivering results.”

Next year, Zients is expected to take over Gene Sperling’s position as senior White House economic advisor, according to NBC News.