GE HealthCare hires chief artificial intelligence officer

GE HealthCare has hired a new global chief artificial intelligence officer as the company seeks to build on its leading collection of AI offerings. 

The Chicago-based imaging manufacturer has picked Rodolphe Katra, PhD, MBA, to fill the key role. He previously worked with healthcare technology firm Medtronic, also serving as global chief AI officer and VP. 

GE HealthCare President and CEO Peter J. Arduini, MBA, announced the hire via LinkedIn on Tuesday. He noted that the company has built a “strong foundation in AI,” boasting 134 FDA-authorized, AI-enabled devices—more than any other medical technology company. 

“But the opportunity ahead is much bigger than any number. That’s why I’m excited to welcome Rodolphe Katra, as our new global chief AI officer,” Arduini wrote Sept. 29. “With more than 25 years across medtech, AI and R&D, Rodolphe brings deep experience translating advanced technology into solutions that work in complex clinical and regulatory environments.”

In his new role, he’ll report to Taha Kass-Hout, MD, MS, GE HealthCare’s global chief science and technology officer. Katra is expected to work closely with GE’s segment teams, helping the company take its AI strategy “to the next level,” Arduini wrote.

“GE HealthCare is a storied company with a remarkable legacy of innovation, including leading the industry in FDA AI authorizations,” Katra wrote in his own social media post. “It's a privilege to join at such a pivotal moment for AI in healthcare, and to help take this work to the next level—connecting devices, software, and data to deliver better insights and more precise care for clinicians and patients.”