Wolters Kluwer accelerates cloud and AI adoption under new CEO

Wolters Kluwer, a nearly two-century-old information solutions company, has transformed from traditional publishing roots into a technology-driven enterprise that leverages artificial intelligence across half its product portfolio. Under new CIO Mark Sherwood’s leadership, the company continues evolving its cloud strategy, AI integration, and cybersecurity approach to serve professionals across healthcare, legal, tax, and finance sectors—demonstrating how legacy organizations can successfully navigate digital transformation while maintaining industry expertise.

The big picture: Mark Sherwood joined Wolters Kluwer as CIO in December 2024, bringing extensive tech experience from Microsoft, Nuance Communications, Symantec and Cisco to accelerate the company’s ongoing technology transformation.

• Despite its 187-year history rooted in publishing, Wolters Kluwer has successfully pivoted to become a technology-centric enterprise that generates nearly 6 billion euros annually.
• Sherwood was attracted to the company specifically because of its innovation mindset, noting its constant questioning of “What’s next? How do we make things better, faster, stronger?”

Key responsibilities: Sherwood’s CIO role at Wolters Kluwer encompasses three distinct areas that bridge traditional IT with strategic business functions.

• He oversees the traditional technology function including infrastructure, hosting, networking, and enterprise applications.
• His purview extends to global information security and cybersecurity strategy, increasingly critical areas for information-based businesses.
• Sherwood also manages the business relationship management team, creating a direct link between IT capabilities and business objectives.

Digital transformation journey: Wolters Kluwer’s evolution from publishing holding company to technology enterprise accelerated significantly over the past decade.

• The formation of the Global Business Systems organization proved pivotal in driving technology horizontally across different business units.
• The company has substantially reduced its data center footprint through an extensive cloud transformation strategy.
• Wolters Kluwer employs a multi-cloud approach using both AWS and Azure to support its diverse technology needs.

AI integration: Artificial intelligence has become central to Wolters Kluwer’s product strategy and competitive advantage.

• Approximately half of the company’s products now incorporate AI in meaningful ways to enhance functionality and user experience.
• The AI implementation focuses primarily on helping customers find relevant information faster and more naturally within their professional workflows.

Future technology focus: Sherwood is monitoring several emerging technologies and approaches that could impact Wolters Kluwer’s long-term strategy.

• He has expressed particular interest in agentic AI and AI employees, suggesting potential shifts in how intelligent systems might be deployed.
• Quantum computing and its implications for cybersecurity represent another area of strategic importance.
• Data strategy and governance remain foundational concerns as the company continues its technology-focused evolution.