T-Systems, Deutsche Telekom’s major customer subsidiary, is restructuring its leadership. On September 1, 2025, the current CTO, Christine Knackfuß-Nikolic, will take over the newly created role of Chief Sovereignty Officer.
By Jan Nintemann and Jochen Siegle; Photo: T-Systems
In this role, she will develop a comprehensive sovereignty strategy that takes into account regulatory, geopolitical, and customer-specific requirements. She will also remain responsible for T-Systems’ security business.
Cloud Offerings for Europe
The introduction of the new executive board department also marks the launch of a revised cloud portfolio. The aim is to offer companies in Germany and Europe sovereign alternatives to the dominant US hyperscalers, thereby enabling greater digital independence.
New Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer
In addition to strengthening the topic of digital sovereignty, corporate strategy is also getting its own executive board department. Andreas Schlegel will take over the position of Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer in September. He will be responsible for further developing T-Systems’ overall strategy, driving innovation, and sharpening the portfolio.
Schlegel has many years of experience in corporate strategy at Deutsche Telekom and in management consulting with a focus on international technology topics.
Relevance for TransformIT Europe
The new executive board structures show that digital sovereignty is becoming a crucial competitive factor for cloud and AI solutions in Europe. This topic will also be a central item on the agenda at the TransformIT Europe Conference & Expo 2026 in Brussels.
Chief Sovereignty Officers, cloud providers, and technology partners will discuss in lectures, panels, and on the exhibition floor how Europe can strengthen its digital independence – and what role sovereign cloud and AI offerings play in this.
At TransformIT Europe 2025, Jens Mühlner, T-Systems Head of Digital Sustainability Solutions, made it clear that cooperation across company boundaries and shared data infrastructures are crucial – for resilience, efficiency, and innovation.
Also, Prof. Dr. Harald Wehnes formulated a clear message at the kick-off of TransformIT Europe in May: Digital sovereignty is a basic prerequisite for human-centered digitization and the management of global crises such as climate change.
Europe has the chance to shape its digital future itself, according to the appeal. Because: Big Tech is dependent on our data and our money.
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