Tech
Wärtsilä introduces dedicated organisation to drive digital transformation
Chief Digital Officer & Executive Vice President Marco Ryan empowers Wärtsilä colleagues to embrace the change
T he technology group Wärtsilä is currently implementing a digital transformation to become a data led , insights driven , and agile technology company dedicated to taking a leadership role in the smart marine and smart energy ecosystems throughout their entire lifecycle . The aim is to increase efficiency while enabling a zero emissions society .
Following the appointment of Chief Digital Officer ( CDO ) and Executive Vice President Marco Ryan in September 2016 , Wärtsilä has taken several actions to speed up the developments achieved during the last decade . The focus is on future technology , notably the use of artificial intelligence , data analytics , open platforms , block chain and cyber security , as well as on creating new business models . Wärtsilä ’ s leadership position in these ecosystems will be built on its unique market position , which is based on deep customer understanding , predictive analytics and asset optimization skills , a global service network , an extensive product range , and engineering and technology expertise .
“ Digital disruption is already affecting the energy and marine sectors and will do so increasingly in the future . We are building on decades of expertise in digital development and accelerating the pace at which we build new digital solutions , services and opportunities for our customers . Wärtsilä ’ s recent acquisitions of Eniram and Greensmith demonstrate Wärtsilä ’ s ambitions and active role in helping its customers to benefit from smart technology initiatives ,” says Marco Ryan .
To accelerate this digital transformation , Wärtsilä has recruited a highly qualified digital leadership team , and has established a new digital organisation with more than 400 existing Wärtsilä employees .
Ms Selina Heiska has been appointed as Vice President , Digital Transformation and is responsible for leading the culture change programme and transformation communications teams . Selina joins Wärtsilä from Capgemini , where her title was Director , Digital .
Mr Mikko Tepponen has been appointed as Vice President , Digital Portfolio Management . He is responsible for Wärtsilä ’ s digital service portfolio and its development . Previously Tepponen led the Wärtsilä Services ’ digitalisation team .
Mr Toby White has been appointed as Vice President , Digital Engineering as of 12 June , and in this role he leads software engineering , emerging technologies and asset management . Toby joins Wärtsilä from GlobalData where he has acted as Group Chief Technology Officer , CTO .
As part of the Digital transformation , particular emphasis is being given to cyber security . Accordingly , the cyber security team is being considerably strengthened across Cyber Assurance , Cyber Operations , Cyber Policy , Information security and Cyber-as-a Service . The key appointments so far made include Mr Andrew Ross as Director , Cyber Assurance and Mr Kim Eklund as Director , Cyber-as-a-Service .
In addition , newly appointed Heads of Digital will be responsible for furthering digital initiatives and strategies in each of the business divisions . Mr Andrea Morgante has been appointed Head of Digital in Marine Solutions , and Mr Saku Mäihäniemi as Head of Digital in Services as of 1 June . Heiska , Tepponen , White , Morgante and Mäihäniemi will be part of Wärtsilä ’ s digital management team , led by the CDO , Marco Ryan .
Wärtsilä has already announced two additional Vice President positions in the digital organisation and will announce dozens of new vacancies in 2017 , including other management positions .
In addition to building a dedicated organisation , Wärtsilä is also encouraging all of the company ’ s employees to personally drive the digital transformation . In May 2017 500 Wärtsilä colleagues from 33 countries , along with the Board of Management , attended an internal event in Munich , Germany to kick-off the next chapter in Wärtsilä ’ s digital journey .
To develop digital services and products in a more agile way , Wärtsilä will launch digital acceleration centres globally . In the centres , Wärtsilä takes promising ideas and transforms them into service concepts and products , co-creating the solutions with customers and partners . Reference : Wärtsilä Corporation
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