Springer Nature hires new chief digital officer to 'drive AI and digital transformation'

Springer Nature has created the new role of chief digital officer to "drive AI and digital transformation for [the] research community". Saskia Steinacker will join Springer Nature from Bayer on 1st November 2024 in the newly created role, reporting to the chief executive Frank Vrancken Peeters.

The company said this was the latest step in its "wider commitment to using sustainable and innovative technology to develop new products, platforms and services for the community". They added this aims to support them as scientific discoveries are advanced and solutions to the world’s pressing challenges are found.

Saskia has more than 15 years’ experience in digital transformation to lead the "creation of new products and solutions to support researchers, authors, editors, and reviewers across the research and publishing lifecycle". 

Peeters said: “I am delighted to welcome Saskia to the team. As technology and AI continues to transform our sector, our focus remains on the academic community and their publishing experience. With her wealth of experience, Saskia is ideally placed to help us make best use of this transformation by developing solutions that not only support our authors, reviewers and editors on their publishing journey with us but also meet the wider evolving needs of our communities.”   

Steinacker said: “Springer Nature’s purpose to accelerate solutions for the world’s biggest societal, environmental and economic challenges deeply resonates with me. I’m excited to contribute my expertise in technology and artificial intelligence to drive meaningful impact.”

Steinacker will also work on the development, user experience and rollout of Springer Nature’s new peer review platform, Snapp.