AI STRATEGY
If ChatGPT could create an AI and transformation expert – and it’ s had a fair crack at creating every other person, role and doll in recent months – it may well come up with Azfar Aslam. Fascination with how technology works from a young age? Check. Focused on using innovative solutions to solve real enterprise problems? Check. A unique understanding of the need to seek business value in technology deployment? You get the idea.
Add in the small matter of disrupting a US $ 50bn-a-year industry as part of a pioneering team at Lucent Technologies and you have a senior leader uniquely placed to discuss the meteoric rise of enterprise and industry AI, as well as the best practices needed to extract tangible value.
Today, Azfar applies this experience to driving business, technology and operational transformations across telecoms, cloud and other industries at Nokia, where he holds the role of Vice President & Chief Technology Officer Europe. He previously worked as Vice President & Senior Partner at Nokia’ s R & D-focused Bell Labs, leading the consulting business, driving innovation, business and operations, while advising CXOs across industries including telecoms, cloud, energy, transport and defence.
Transforming with maximum value In an enterprise environment defined by disruption and rapid technology evolution, Azfar’ s role is to steer clients through challenges by focusing on
44 July 2025