North Carolina’s CIO to step down for private sector role

Teena Piccione, who has served as secretary of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology and state chief information officer since early 2025, will step down on April 6 to return to the private sector, officials announced Thursday. Nate Denny, the department’s former deputy secretary, will return to serve as secretary, according to a press release.

The leadership transition comes at a pivotal moment for North Carolina’s IT strategy, as states nationwide grapple with how to scale AI adoption, strengthen cybersecurity defenses and modernize legacy systems.

“It has been a profound honor to serve North Carolina in this capacity,” Piccione said in the release. “I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity to contribute to the state and look forward to the continued growth and success of North Carolina.”

Piccione stepped into the role after Jim Weaver last year stepped down, after four years in the role, to pursue a private sector job. Piccione said she learned a lot during her first six months heading the technology agency, including how it could be a better partner to state agencies.

“I have to make sure I can understand Department of Transportation, all of our environmental quality issues, the prisons, our Veterans Affairs, because in order to serve them well, I have to understand what they do,” she said in an interview last year.

Piccione brought a private-sector approach to government, emphasizing faster delivery timelines and prioritizing projects with near-term impact for residents.

“I run at the speed of business, not at the speed of government,” she said.

Before joining state government, Piccione held senior roles at major technology companies, including Google and AT&T, experience that shaped her focus on accelerating digital transformation and modernizing core systems across agencies.

In Thursday’s press release, Gov. Josh Stein called her a “changemaker” who helped advance key technology priorities for the state. Piccione said it’s been a “profound honor” to serve.

“I appreciate her tenacity and hard work to improve our state’s cybersecurity, harness AI, and improve IT procurement. Her service to the state of North Carolina has been impactful. I wish her all the best in the future,” Stein said.

Denny, the former deputy technology secretary, previously oversaw the state’s broadband expansion efforts. He also served in the General Services Administration, according to his LinkedIn profile.

In the announcement, Denny said he plans to build on Piccione’s work, streamlining procurement and improving digital services.

“I’m honored to serve the state of North Carolina again and to support Governor Stein’s effort to connect every community and make state technology easier to use and more secure,” Denny said. “I look forward to continuing Secretary Piccione’s great work to streamline procurement, modernize IT, and prepare the state to lead in the 21st century.”