Strategic leadership transition reinforces IFS’s commitment to a high-performance,people-first culture.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 03, 2025 – IFS, the leading provider of Industrial AI software, today announced the appointment of Mihita Podobnik as Chief People Officer, succeeding Debra McCowan, who is stepping down from her role as Chief Human Resources Officer.
Podobnik was most recently IFS Chief of Staff, where she partnered closely with the executive team to lead strategic initiatives and drive transformation across the business. Her leadership skills and ability to connect strategy with execution will be central to advancing IFS’s people-first agenda.
“Mihita is highly respected across IFS and I’m delighted to welcome her into this role,” said Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS. “Her leadership, strategic mindset, and deep connection to our people make her the ideal person to take our high-performance agenda forward at pace. I look forward to seeing her impact as we continue to scale globally.
“Debra has played a key role in shaping IFS’s people strategy. Her leadership has left a lasting impact, and I wish her every success in her next chapter.”
Commenting on her appointment, Mihita Podobnik said: “I’m honored to take on the role of Chief People Officer at such a pivotal time for IFS. As AI disruption and innovation accelerate, talent is the key enabler of our strategy. By fostering a culture where people can thrive, we will execute on our business priorities, accelerate growth, and strengthen our position as the global Industrial AI leader.”
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About IFS IFS is the world’s leading provider of Industrial AI for hardcore businesses that service, power and protect our planet. Our technology enables businesses which manufacture goods, maintain complex assets, and manage service-focused operations to unlock the transformative power of Industrial AI™ to enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.
IFS Cloud is a fully composable AI-powered platform, designed for ultimate flexibility and adaptability to our customers’ specific requirements and business evolution. It spans the needs of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), and Field Service Management (FSM). IFS technology leverages AI, machine learning, real-time data and analytics to empower our customers to make informed strategic decisions and excel at their Moment of Service™.
IFS was founded in 1983 by five university friends who pitched a tent outside our first customer’s site to ensure they would be available 24/7 and the needs of the customer would come first. Since then, IFS has grown into a global leader with over 7,000 employees in 80 countries. Driven by those foundational values of agility, customer-centricity, and trust, IFS is recognized worldwide for delivering value and supporting strategic transformations. We are the most recommended supplier in our sector. Visit ifs.com to learn why.
IFS Press Contacts:
EUROPE / MEA / APJ: Adam Gillbe IFS, Director of Corporate & Executive Communications Email: ad*********@*fs.com NORTH AMERICA / LATAM: Mairi Morgan IFS, Director of Corporate & Executive Communications Email: ma**********@*fs.com
