Former German Air Force officer Sven Heursch has joined Hensoldt as head of Software-Defined Defence & Digitalisation. Hensoldt said Heursch assumes a newly created position pivotal to the company’s North Star strategy, a plan to achieve growth, innovation and market leadership by transforming into a digital, solution-oriented defense provider.
As software-defined defense and digitalization chief, Heursch will oversee the development of scalable, software-based sensors, artificial intelligence-powered data fusion and digital services for military and security-related use. He will directly report to CEO Oliver Dörre.
Commenting on his new role, Heursch said he looks forward to sharing his military experience and consulting background. “Together, we will shape the digital transformation in the defense sector and develop innovative solutions for the challenges of tomorrow,” he added.
Dörre first disclosed Heursch’s appointment during the company’s 2025 second quarter earnings call, where he also announced plans to maintain Germany as Hensoldt’s anchor customer.
Another driver to the company’s North Star strategy is an earlier announcement of the addition of Alan Carson and Thomas Freiheit as managing directors of its defense electronics and logistics subsidiary ESG.