The government this week appointed Martha Lane Fox, co-founder of lastminute.com, as the "Champion for Digital Inclusion".
The dot com pioneer will work in the post for two years as part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' push to help the 17 million people considered as being excluded from digital technology.
Lane Fox commented on her appointment in a statement, saying: "I am extremely excited to be given this opportunity. Although I realise I am lucky enough to be one of the least digitally excluded people in the country, I have seen first-hand how technology can help to create positive change in people's lives."
She added: "I will use ideas, contacts and experience from both the commercial and charitable sectors to make sure that, with the help of the Task Force, I quickly start to deliver effective projects."
The "Task Force" she mentions includes members from the BBC, BT and Help the Aged.
The announcement came just after the release of the long-awaited Digital Britain report from Lord Carter who will be returning to the private sector at the government's summer recess.
"The best public ambitions benefit enormously from the commercial and personal experience of people like Martha Lane Fox; willingly giving of their time and their expertise," he said of the appointment. "I am delighted that Martha has accepted this vital responsibility."
Lane Fox will take up the post on 22 June and receive 30,000 a year to work two days a week in the role.
