Dirk Didascalou

Dr. Dirk Didascalou is a technologist, contributing significantly to advancements in mobile communications, IoT, and industrial digitalisation. He has over two decades of experience in research and development, as well as strong expertise in cellular communications, cloud computing, HyperScale architecture, Software-as-a-Service (Saas) and IoT. 

As the Chief Technology Officer at Siemens Digital Industries, Dirk leads the the overarching technology and architecture strategy for DI. He is also responsible for strategic partnerships within the industry and joint initiatives with customers, for example in the automobile industry. In addition to his duties at DI, he also takes on a leading role in the company-wide IoT Board and promotes digital transformation across all Siemens businesses.

Dirk has also held the position of Vice President of IoT at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Seattle (USA). Prior to AWS, Dirk served as Corporate Vice President President Technology at Microsoft. The switch to Microsoft resulted from the acquisition of Nokia's mobile phone division, in which he was responsible for various has held management positions in Copenhagen and Beijing, and as Senior Vice President R&D was responsible for the global technology division.

Dirk Didascalou began his career as a Scientist and Lecturer at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where he served from August 1996 to November 2000. He then transitioned to Siemens AG, holding various roles from December 2000 to September 2005, including Manager of Standardization for 2G and 3G Terminals, Senior Product Definition Manager, and Director of Platform Generations within the Mobile Phones Division.

In October 2005, Didascalou joined BenQ (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. as Deputy Managing Director and Head of R&D, a position he held until December 2006. He subsequently moved to Nokia in March 2007, where he spent over seven years in multiple leadership roles. These included Senior Product Programme Manager, Director of the Program Center Copenhagen, Director of R&D Framework, Vice President of Basic & Feature Phones R&D, and Senior Vice President of Mobile Phones R&D. His tenure at Nokia spanned from March 2007 to August 2014, during which he worked in Copenhagen and Beijing.

Didascalou then joined Microsoft as Corporate Vice President of Technology & Research from September 2014 to November 2015. Following his time at Microsoft, he became Vice President of Internet of Things (AWS IoT) at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in January 2016, a role he held until May 2021. At AWS, he was instrumental in advancing IoT technologies and services.

In September 2021, Didascalou returned to Siemens, taking on the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Siemens Digital Industries in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. In this capacity, he has been overseeing technological innovations and advancements within the company. As of January 2024, he also serves as a Member of the Board of Directors at itm8.

Dr. Dirk envisions leveraging advanced technologies to drive innovation and digital transformation across industries. He aims to integrate cutting-edge developments in IoT, artificial intelligence, and industrial automation to create efficient, sustainable, and resilient systems. By fostering collaboration and a forward-thinking approach, Dirk seeks to enhance productivity, optimise operations, and contribute to the overall advancement of technological capabilities on a global scale.