US-based Tech Giant Apple has appointed Alex Gorsky, current chairman and CEO of healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson to its board of directors. Apple said that it aims to develop the healthcare arena. Gorsky’s decades of experience in the corporate and healthcare fields will help the company to bring more enhanced health-related functionality in iPhones and Apple Watches. Gorsky led J&J to be the world’s largest healthcare company and the world’s leading R&D for new healthcare technologies, Apple said in a press release.
“Alex has long been a visionary in healthcare, applying his tremendous insight, experience, and passion for technology to the cause of improving lives and building healthier communities,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.
“We’re excited to welcome him to Apple’s board of directors, and I know that all of us will benefit from his leadership and expertise.”
Apple has particularly enhanced its healthcare features in Apple Watch for the past three to four years. Apple and J&J already have ties – both companies are collaborating on the Heartline study to detect Atrial Fibrillations before symptoms become evident and harmful. In addition, the latest updates to iOS and watchOS have introduced new healthcare features that facilitate the sharing of medical records with doctors and family members. And now with Gorsky, Apple focuses to make its watch more enhanced by adding valuable features or new sensors.
“I’ve long shared Apple’s belief that technology has the potential to improve lives and create healthier communities,” said Alex Gorsky of his new role.
“It’s an honor to join Apple’s board of directors, and to be part of a values-led company that’s constantly innovating to both enable and enhance the way we live.”
Alex Gorsky earned a Bachelor of Science from the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, and then served in the US Army for six years and ended his military career as a captain. In 1988, he started his career at Johnson and Johnson and graduated with a Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1996. He is also a board member of IBM, the Travis Manion Foundation, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. After becoming CEO in 2012, Alex Gorsky leads a global team of over 130,000 people at Johnson & Johnson. His innovations and investments took pharmaceuticals to new heights.
However, Apple’s healthcare endeavor is always controversial. Researchers stated that Apple does not keep its algorithm transparent which creates difficulty to use Apple Watches data in research. It is reported that the Apple Health sector uses deceptive data to make product decisions. Employees also raised concerns about Apple’s plans for a trial to act as a primary healthcare provider. However, Johnson & Johnson has had its share of controversy since Gorsky became CEO in 2012. But we may hope that having an experienced individual may help Apple overcome these potential barriers.
Alex Gorsky will retire from J&J in January 2022 and Joaquin Duato will take up his position. However, he will continue to be the executive chairman of J&J. Gorsky will join Apple board of directors Cook, Arthur D. Levinson, James A. Bell, Al Gore, Andrea Jung, Monica Lozano, Ronald D. Sugar, and Susan L. Wagner.
