Philips Appoints Technology Chief and First Chief AI Officer

Philips has announced two major changes to its executive committee and technology leadership, signalling AI’s increasingly integral role in company strategy.

Marking a first at Philips, Shez Partovi will take on the role of Chief AI Officer and will, according to CEO Roy Jakobs, “guide our transformation into a people-led, AI-powered company.”

Announced at the same time, Laura Matz joins Philips from Merck KGaA as its latest Chief Innovation and Technology Officer.

“These appointments strengthen our Executive Committee as we accelerate our plan to drive profitable growth to deliver sustainable value,” writes Roy on LinkedIn.

“They sharpen our focus on creating more value through innovation and AI so we can deliver better care for more people,” he continues.

Philips is a global health technology company focused on improving patient outcomes through connected care, diagnostic imaging, monitoring and precision diagnosis. 

Its healthcare portfolio spans MRI, CT, ultrasound, patient monitoring and informatics, helping hospitals streamline workflows, support clinicians and deliver more personalised, data-driven care across the patient journey.

Uncharted territory

For the first time, Philips will have a Chief AI Officer in its ranks.

Philips has embedded AI across several areas of its healthcare portfolio, particularly diagnostic imaging, clinical workflow and patient monitoring. A core focus lies in embedding AI directly into the healthcare infrastructure clinicians already use.

Shez’s focus will be on both how AI is embedded in the company’s products to benefit clinicians and how it can support the company’s efforts to improve internal efficiency and performance. 

On LinkedIn, Shez writes: “The mandate of this new position is enterprise-wide: how AI shows up in what we build for clinicians and patients, and how it reinvents the way we work inside Philips.

“AI is not the goal. Impact is. The opportunity is a people-led, AI-powered Philips — technology that gives clinicians back time, helps us move faster, and lets us focus on what matters most: listening to our customers, solving the clinical problems that improve lives, and delivering better care for more people,” he continues.

Alongside his new chief AI role, Shez will continue to lead Philips’ Enterprise Informatics business. 

Prior to joining Philips in 2021, Shez held senior positions at Amazon Web Services and Dignity Health.

Innovation and technology

Laura Matz joins Philips from Merck KGaA, where she served as the company’s Chief Science and Technology Officer.

It follows 19 years spent at the German firm, including at its affiliated companies Air Products, Versum Materials and Athinia.

“Philips’ purpose - to improve people’s health and well-being through meaningful innovation - has never felt more relevant,” writes Laura on LinkedIn.

“I look forward to working with new colleagues, customers and partners to connect science, technology, data and digital capabilities in ways that create real value for patients, healthcare professionals and consumers,” she continues.

Philipp Harbach will take over as Chief Science and Technology Officer at Merck KGaA on an interim basis following Laura’s departure.

Merck KGaA is a global science and technology company spanning healthcare, life sciences and electronics. Its healthcare business develops innovative medicines and technologies across oncology, immunology, neurology and fertility, while its Life Science division supplies tools and solutions supporting pharmaceutical research, bioprocessing and healthcare innovation worldwide. 

Philips - key partners

WellSpan Health

CEO: Roxanna Gapstur | HQ: York, Pennsylvania

In June 2026, WellSpan Health partnered with Philips on a seven-year strategic alliance spanning advanced imaging, diagnostics, AI and research. The collaboration will see the organisations co-develop and validate new technologies across WellSpan’s 12 hospitals and wider network. The partnership aims to improve clinical workflows, efficiency and patient care. 

Edwards Lifesciences

CEO: Bernard Zovighian | HQ: Irvine, California

Philips and Edwards Lifesciences collaborated to develop DeviceGuide, an AI-powered solution providing real-time guidance during minimally invasive mitral valve repair. The technology combines Philips’ imaging expertise with Edwards’ structural heart technology to track and visualise its PASCAL Ace repair device. FDA clearance was secured in March 2026.