Dive Brief:
- The Roche Group appointed Wafaa Mamilli as chief digital technology officer effective Feb. 10, the company said Wednesday. Mamilli will also join the healthcare company’s corporate executive committee, reporting to CEO Thomas Schinecker.
- Mamilli most recently served as chief digital and technology officer and group president for China, Brazil and precision animal health at Zoetis.
- The executive will take over global oversight of the company’s Informatics function from Alan Hippe, who currently serves as CIO as well as CFO. Hippe will then focus solely on the CFO position, according to the company.
Dive Insight:
The shift in IT leadership at Roche comes as the company focuses on enterprisewide AI deployment and digital transformation.
Schinecker, who became CEO of The Roche Group in 2023, highlighted technology as a top priority in a letter to shareholders last year, pushing for “the increased use of artificial intelligence at all stages of the drug development process.”
In 2024, the company expanded an initiative to advance cancer research and diagnosis through AI. Roche’s Digital Pathology Open Environment integrated more than 20 AI algorithms from eight new collaborating partners.
Mamilli, who also held several leadership positions during a 20-year stretch at pharma giant Eli Lilly, has been a proponent of building a culture of transformation through cross-unit collaboration.
“Technology — and particularly AI—has never been more promising in shaping the future of healthcare,” Mamilli said in a Wednesday LinkedIn post. “I am excited to build on Roche’s strong foundation, leveraging digital, data, and AI to prevent, stop, and cure diseases while amplifying the role of technology in delivering impactful solutions worldwide.”
