Steve Heywood has been appointed senior vice president and global head of communications at Philips. He joined the company two years ago as vice president and head of external relations, and most recently led the communications function on an interim basis.In his new role, Heywood will oversee the healthcare company’s reputation across investor, regulatory, stakeholder, internal, and external audiences.In a LinkedIn post, Heywood said, “Communications connects strategy, innovation and impact to strengthen trust and stakeholder confidence, ultimately supporting business performance. It's a fascinating moment to do this work as AI reshapes how we produce, discover and consume content. I'm proud of the contribution this team makes to help Philips deliver better care for more people.”Lian Vergeer-Langens will continue to lead the company’s brand function, with both teams set to work closely together.Heywood joined Philips in May 2024 after spending nearly a decade at Edelman in management roles, most recently as general manager of the firm’s operations in the Netherlands.Before that, he served as head of corporate communications for eBay in London and also held roles at Weber Shandwick and McDonald’s.