Rahul N. Merchant is New York City’s first Citywide Chief Information and Innovation Officer (CIIO) and the seventh Commissioner of the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT).  Merchant is responsible for the City’s IT infrastructure, as well as oversight of the implementation of key technology initiatives. He leads a 1,200-person staff responsible for serving the information technology needs of 45 Mayoral agencies, dozens of other governmental entities, and nearly 300,000 employees that serve 8.4 million New Yorkers, and reach millions more worldwide.

CIIO Merchant has more than 25 years of experience as an information technology executive and leader in innovation in the financial services sector having built, reformed, and overseen major IT operations in helping companies streamline and innovate using technology.

Mr. Merchant previously served as the Chief Technology Officer for Merrill Lynch where he led the company’s efforts to rebuild its worldwide IT operations following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. In this role, he consolidated the company’s global IT functions and implemented complex technology systems in the area of capital markets, wealth management, and risk-management for global banking operations. After leaving Merrill Lynch in 2006, he served as Chief Information and Operations Officer for Fannie Mae for three years, where he streamlined the company’s complex infrastructure and operations groups. Immediately prior to joining the City, Mr. Merchant  served as a partner at Exigen Capital, a private equity firm, where he led the firm’s technology investments.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Merchant worked for a number of financial services and technology firms in leadership positions, including Dresdner Kleinwort Benson as Executive Vice President from 1998 to 2000, Sanwa Financial Services as Chief Information and Operations Officer from 1994 to 1998, Lehman Brothers as First Vice President of the Equity Technology Division from 1993 to 1994, and Cooper, Neff and Associates as Principle and Vice President from 1987 to 1993.

CIIO Merchant has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Bombay University, a Master of Science in Computer Science from Memphis State University, and a Master of Business Administration from Temple University.

Click here for a short version of the Commissioner's biography