The European Commission appoints Hagemann Snabe as Special Envoy for Industrial AI

Brussels – The European Commission today (3 June) appointed Jim Hagemann Snabe, a Danish national with 25 years’ experience in the IT sector, as Special Envoy for Industrial Artificial Intelligence. In this role, he will advise the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, on matters relating to Industrial Artificial Intelligence. The aim is to maximise the transformative potential of AI across the EU. As part of this work, Hagemann Snabe will draft a report on industrial AI based on concrete data and focused on the future. 

The Berlaymont Building explained that its advisory role will cover the entire industrial AI ecosystem, with a particular focus on AI infrastructure, including data centres, high-performance computing (HPC) and semiconductor supply chains, which are crucial for the widespread adoption of AI. He will also provide advice on core AI technologies, such as large language models (LLMs), generative AI, cloud computing services and advanced AI software, as well as on the application of AI across various industrial sectors. It will also contribute to strategic policy considerations to ensure consistency between technological innovation and the EU’s legislative framework. 

The Commission noted that Hagemann Snabe, who will hold the post until 31 March 2027, has previously worked for leading technology companies and has served on the boards of several financial and international institutions. With over 25 years’ experience in the IT sector and leadership roles in fields such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and clean technologies, “Hagemann Snabe has a strong track record of promoting innovation and digitalisation at the highest levels, driving strategic changes that have improved competitiveness and strengthened the responsible role of businesses in society.” For Brussels, “his appointment as Special Envoy for Industrial AI is due to his exceptional and extensive expertise and deep experience, not immediately available to the same extent within the Commission.” Furthermore, “this combination of strategic leadership, industry knowledge and technological expertise makes him particularly well-suited to supporting the EU’s ambitions regarding the implementation and adoption of industrial artificial intelligence.” Finally, the Commission stated that it had carried out a thorough assessment prior to the appointment to ensure there were no conflicts of interest between Hagemann Snabe’s duties in this role and his professional activities outside the Commission. For the duration of his term, Snabe will suspend his membership of the Google Cloud Advisory Board and the Board of Directors of C3.ai.