Roy Jakobs

Roy joined Philips in 2010, initially leading the digital transformation in Lighting. In 2012, he moved to Dubai to lead Consumer, Healthcare and Lighting for the Middle East & Turkey. In 2015, he became the Domestic Appliances lead globally out of Shanghai. In 2018, he joined the Executive Committee as leader of Personal Health and, from 2020, led Connected Care before being appointed CEO. 

Across his 30-year career, Roy has led major business transformations at Shell, RELX and Philips, including the shift to digital business models. 

Beyond Philips, Roy contributes to the development of a stronger MedTech ecosystem through collaboration among healthcare providers, industry and government, including through the MedTech Plan 2030. His leadership in AI extends to the global stage: he previously co-chaired the US National Academy of Medicine’s AI Code of Conduct Steering Committee, helping advance the safe, ethical and responsible use of AI in health and healthcare, and is Co-Chair of the European Round Table for Industry’s Data and AI Committee. Since 2026, he has served as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of GSK. 

Roy holds an MBA from Radboud University Nijmegen and the Università degli Studi di Bologna, a Master’s in Marketing from TIAS School for Business and Society, and completed the New Board Program at Nyenrode Business University. He speaks Dutch, English, German, Italian and Portuguese. He is married and has three sons.