Who's up for IT? E-envoy contenders prepare for the off

This - give or take the odd phrase - is the job ad for the most challenging post in ebusiness today.

Since Alex Allan announced he would be stepping down as e-envoy at the end of October, the search has been on for a replacement. Realistically we have a short-list of four. All are worthy of consideration but only two stand out: an insider and an outsider.

The insider is Jim Norton, currently head of ecommerce policy at the Institute of Directors (IoD). He was a key figure in the crafting of the Ecommerce Bill (which became the E-communications Act) and was a disappointed runner-up to Allan last time around.

A former BT employee, a one-time member of the Cabinet Office and now the man charged with enticing the famously conservative members of the IoD out of the technology dark ages, Norton has the right mix of industry and government experience for the job.

The outsider is Rene Carayol, a former IT director and keen advocate of ebusiness for many years. He has long stressed the need for IT professionals to talk the language of the business. Now he'd like to persuade the same business people to embrace the world of 'e'.

Despite his appearance at last year's Labour Party Conference, Carayol will be a new name to many in the Cabinet. But given the government's patchy ecommerce record to date, that's no bad thing. Speaking to silicon.com this week he said: "[The role of the e-envoy] is not about legislation, it's about supporting, it's about giving guidance, giving direction, coaching."

Carayol has two other points in his favour - he is an enthusiast and a natural in front of camera.

Legal & General's Margaret Smith and the Cabinet Office's own Ann Steward have several weeks to prove they deserve equal consideration. But for now Norton/Carayol is the silicon.com dream ticket. Individually or as a team.