T-Systems Appoints Chief Sovereignty Officer to Enhance Digital Autonomy

T-Systems has announced the appointment of a Chief Sovereignty Officer in response to increasing customer demand for greater digital sovereignty in cloud solutions. Christine Knackfuß-Nikolic, currently serving as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at T-Systems, will assume this new role, focusing on the establishment and advancement of sovereign cloud solutions.

The move comes as more companies in Germany and Europe express a strong need for secure, sovereign cloud services, driven by geopolitical uncertainties. Ferri Abolhassan, CEO of T-Systems and a member of the Telekom board, emphasized the company's ambition to become a leading provider of secure and sovereign cloud and AI solutions across Europe.

Knackfuß-Nikolic's position as a member of T-Systems' executive management highlights the critical importance of this role within the organization. In discussions regarding the company's approach to digital sovereignty, she outlined three distinct levels: data sovereignty, operational sovereignty, and technical sovereignty. T-Systems is committed to providing tailored solutions for each of these levels of sovereignty.

As part of its initiative to enhance digital sovereignty, T-Systems will be featured at the upcoming IT Summit by heise 2025, scheduled for November 11-12 in Munich. This event will showcase expert insights on how European cloud providers compare to their US counterparts and how organizations can effectively implement local AI solutions. Attendees will also learn from case studies about reducing digital dependency and how open-source software can enhance independence, along with the advantages of improved IT security through greater digital sovereignty.

The IT Summit is organized by heise conferences and aims to provide a comprehensive platform for IT professionals to explore these critical topics.