DNV has appointed Rob van der Spek as AI and innovation manager for its Industrial Services business unit, a newly created role that signals the company's intent to scale artificial intelligence across its global inspection and assurance operations. The move responds to accelerating demand: a 2025 DNV survey of 1,160 businesses found that 60% plan to implement AI-driven applications within the next year, up from 47% in 2024.
Van der Spek, previously digital innovation lead at DNV, will identify, develop and scale practical AI and digital solutions for both internal operations and customer projects. His remit spans the full asset and infrastructure lifecycle - from fabrication and construction through to in-service performance - across energy, renewables, power transmission, hydrogen, carbon capture, rail and industrial manufacturing.
Where AI meets inspection
The role supports a strategy to modernise processes that have traditionally relied on manual workflows. Priorities include automating routine tasks, extracting more value from inspection data, and building insights that improve productivity and quality as industrial projects grow more complex. DNV launched its inspection business earlier this year as a global provider of quality assurance and inspection services for energy, infrastructure and industrial supply chains.
Van der Spek framed the approach in practical terms. "AI is at its most powerful when it is used to solve real customer problems," he said. "For us, that means better planning, faster reporting, smarter use of inspection data and more actionable insight for customers."
He stressed that human judgement remains central. "My focus in this new role will be practical: using AI to strengthen our services, not replace the expertise and judgement of our people. Trust, safety and human oversight will remain central to our inspection and assurance activities as we bring our teams along on this journey."
A structured roadmap
Van der Spek will develop a roadmap for expanding AI initiatives across regions and service lines. The work covers productivity tools, digital inspection methods, managed assurance, inspection intelligence and new digital services for customers. Governance, transparency and human oversight are built into the implementation framework - reflecting the high-stakes industrial environments where DNV operates.
Mohamed Houari, chief executive officer of Industrial Services at DNV, said the appointment signals a wider commitment. "Digital, data and AI are becoming central to how value is created for our customers. Rob's appointment is not only about bringing strong leadership to an important area, it is also a clear signal of our intention to further accelerate, coordinate and scale our investments in AI across the business."
Houari added that the move brings structure to existing initiatives: "By bringing greater structure to the many initiatives already underway, we will strengthen innovation, enhance customer outcomes, and position Industrial Services for long-term growth."
Why this matters for management
The 13-point jump in AI adoption intent between 2024 and 2025 - from 47% to 60% of surveyed businesses - is not a technology trend. It is a competitive signal. When a major assurance provider creates a dedicated AI leadership role and ties it directly to inspection quality, reporting speed and customer insight, the operational bar for industrial suppliers and asset owners rises. Managers who treat AI as a future experiment rather than a current capability risk falling behind on contract delivery speed and data transparency - two factors that increasingly determine who wins work in regulated industrial supply chains.
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