Deutsche Telekom hires new COO to push healthcare growth

Deutsche Telekom has created a new COO role for its healthcare division and appointed Uwe Heckert to the job, underscoring its plan to grow in digital health. Heckert previously ran Philips’ healthcare informatics business in Europe and earlier held leadership roles at Deutsche Telekom unit T-Systems. He will report to Gottfried Ludewig, head of the operator’s healthcare business.

The company describes healthcare as a strategic focus, pointing to tens of thousands of German medical practices and more than 300 hospitals already using its services for secure connectivity, data management and AI tools to spot early signs of disease. Deutsche Telekom also recently expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Austrian IT healthcare specialist Synedra, as it prepares for what Heckert calls a major shift in how healthcare is organised and delivered.