New AI Chief at Pfizer to Boost Digital Innovation

Global pharmaceutical company Pfizer is expanding its digital leadership team and has significantly appointed an AI Chief.

Berta Rodriguez-Hervas joins the organisation as Chief AI and Analytics Officer, bringing with her a wealth of experience in digital transformation and AI technologies. She joins the company to lead its AI operations and will serve as co-chair of Pfizer’s AI Council.

With extensive experience in the world of AI, Berta has previously worked for several incredibly high-profile businesses, including Stellantis, Tesla and renowned global chipmaker Nvidia.

“I am confident that Berta's leadership and fresh perspective will continue to take our enterprise AI strategies and capabilities to the next level to accelerate our purpose of breakthroughs that change patients' lives,” Pfizer’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Lidia Fonseca, shared via a LinkedIn post.

Improving healthcare outcomes with AI insights

A leading professional figure in the AI world, Berta specialises in machine learning and analytics. She holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso and holds a successful career with significant roles in major technology and automotive companies. 

Her last role was as Vice President of AI, Algorithms and ML Ops at Stellantis, a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation, overseeing the design and implementation of strategies for the next generation of the company’s autonomous vehicles. Likewise, she worked at Nvidia for nearly five years working across computer vision and deep learning projects as a Principal Scientist.

She is recognised for her ability to rapidly develop and implement AI solutions at scale across several large global organisations - something which she is expected to leverage in her new role at Pfizer.

“I am incredibly inspired by the shared vision I have with Lidia Fonseca regarding the future of AI at Pfizer, and the immense impact we will bring to patients' lives,” Berta noted on LinkedIn.

Currently, Pfizer is using AI in clinical development to generate documents, tables and reports for drug approval. This happens in connection with the drug discovery process, as the company hopes to shorten time to market and gain deeper insights from clinical data.

In the healthcare industry, AI has the potential to drive more scientific breakthroughs by aiding disease diagnosis, treatment options and enhanced patient care. This is in addition to accelerating drug development and discovery and supporting health equity. 

The rise of the Chief AI Officer

The Chief AI Officer role has become increasingly common across multiple industries, with companies like Boeing, NASA, PwC and Instanda hiring new officers in recent months.

According to a recent poll by Gartner, as many as 54% of organisations have appointed a head of AI or AI leader. It highlights an enterprise need for an individual responsible for AI developments, focusing on AI strategy and governance in particular.

As businesses invest further into AI, Chief AI Officers are able to lead the development of a clear and responsible AI strategy that aligns with an organisation’s wider digital transformation goals. This involves improving operational efficiencies, enhancing customer experience and creating new ways to generate revenue for a business - whilst making them feel better prepared for the age of AI.

Berta Rodriguez-Hervas’ appointment highlights how multiple industries have the potential to develop successful AI. For Pfizer in particular, it is clear the organisation is eager to advance its AI capabilities, leveraging the technology to boost their data insights.

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