Governor Ivey Appoints Jim Purcell and Todd Cotton to Cabinet Posts

MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey announced on Wednesday that she has appointed James “Jim” Purcell, Sr. as Acting Secretary of Information Technology and Todd Cotton as Acting Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Senior Services.
“I am proud to appoint Jim and Todd to serve in my cabinet,” Governor Ivey said. “Both men bring a great deal of experience in the areas in which they will serve and both fully embrace my desire to have an open, honest and accountable administration. I look forward to working with both of them in their respective roles in the days ahead.
Jim Purcell has served as the Chief Operations Officer of the Alabama Office of Information Technology since December 2016. In this capacity, he oversaw all aspects of the shared services IT offers in the State of Alabama. He has over 25 years of IT experience, and has served as the Chief Technology Officer for Brasfield & Gorrie for 17 years and as an IT consultant. Prior to joining OIT, he was the Manager of Solutions Architecture in Alabama and Tennessee for IT solutions provider VeriStor, Inc. Purcell holds a bachelor of business administration and accounting from Georgia State University, and is married to the former Rhonda Padrick. The couple has four children and attend Hunter Street Baptist Church.
“I am honored to have been chosen by Governor Ivey to lead the Office of Information Technology,” Mr. Purcell said. “As technology continues to change, the technology related needs of our state government changes; and I am excited to lead the charge in keeping our state on the cutting edge.”
Todd Cotton has been the Chief Fiscal Officer and Assistant Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Senior Services since 2015. Prior to his current role, he served in the accounting division since 1997 when he joined Senior Services from the Alabama Medicaid Agency where he had served since 1990. Cotton holds a bachelor of science in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from Auburn University at Montgomery. He is married to Mayte’ Cotton and the couple has one adult son and a teenaged daughter.
“Under Governor Ivey’s leadership, I look forward to helping meet the needs of senior citizens across our state,” Mr. Cotton commented. “The Department of Senior Services is tasked with serving those citizens who have given much to our state and who, at times, are in great need of help. I am honored to spearhead the efforts to meet those needs.”
Purcell replaces Dr. Joanne Hale and Cotton replaces Neal Morrison. Both appointments are effective July 15, 2017.
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