Kierner reports to Syed Naveed, the Tokyo-based company’s chief technology officer. His responsibilities include spearheading the integration of Olympus’ medical devices with medical-assistive robot technology, digital technology and AI. Naveed says he brings more than 29 years of experience in AI, digital products and more.
“I am delighted to welcome Slawek to this pivotal role. Actively driving the digital transformation is a cornerstone of our commitment to elevating the standard of care,” Naveed said.
He joins Olympus from Intuitive, where he served as SVP, digital experiences and machine learning platforms starting in 2021. He held responsibilities for digital products, data and AI strategy at the surgical robotics leader. At Intuitive, he launched the company’s AI suite of products and newest robotic platforms while also leading its global internet of medical things infrastructure.
Before Intuitive, he served as chief data and analytics officer at Humana. Kierner also led global data analytics, applied machine learning and insights for Microsoft’s Business Applications unit.
Olympus says Kierner now leads development and expansion efforts for its Intelligent Endoscopy Ecosystem with the OlySense platform. The technology harnesses digital capabilities to connect legacy endoscopy devices, robotics and digital solutions. Olympus said the strategic shift enables it to move from a hardware-centric model to a dynamic model driven by continuous software enhancements.
“I am deeply passionate about the potential of digital platforms, AI and robotics to transform healthcare,” said Kierner. “From real-time clinical decision support to predictive maintenance and personalized surgeon education, AI can profoundly enhance how we deliver care. I’m eager to work with Olympus’s talented teams to drive meaningful impact, enhancing product intelligence, supporting surgeons, and improving outcomes for patients globally.”
Kierner joins Olympus as longtime Medtronic executive Bob White prepares to join as CEO, effective June 1.
