Global automotive technology supplier FORVIA announced on October 14 that Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer Raphaël Viard had joined its executive committee. The company said he would report directly to Chief Executive Officer Martin Fischer.
FORVIA described the move as part of an effort to integrate data, digital systems and artificial intelligence into manufacturing performance, product development and business decision-making. Viard joined the group in 2025, bringing experience in technology management at major industrial businesses.
The appointment illustrates how some large manufacturers are placing AI strategy within their senior management structures, rather than treating it solely as an experimental research function.