Blackline Safety is turning to AI leadership with latest Board appointment
Iain Hoey
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Appointment of Vasi Philomin
Blackline Safety has announced that Vasi Philomin has been appointed to its board of directors, effective 11 September 2025.
According to Blackline Safety, Philomin currently serves as Executive Vice President for Data and AI at Siemens and was previously Vice President and General Manager of Generative AI at Amazon.
The company said his expertise spans industrial AI, IoT platforms, and the commercialisation of hardware-enabled SaaS systems.
It added that these skills align with its focus on applying connected data and artificial intelligence to support worker safety and productivity.
The business reported that Philomin’s experience across global markets positions him to contribute to future product and service developments.
CEO statement on appointment
Cody Slater, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of Blackline Safety, said: “Vasi’s leadership at the intersection of AI, cloud, and industrial technology is uniquely aligned with Blackline’s mission to transform safety through connectivity and data-driven intelligence.
“His insights into AI and proven success in scaling HeSaaS businesses will bring invaluable expertise as we advance predictive safety, real-time situational awareness, and next-generation services that protect workers worldwide.”
Philomin’s response to appointment
Philomin said: “Blackline’s leadership in IoT-enabled safety — giving organizations the data they need to make better decisions — is truly inspiring.
“I’m excited to contribute to Blackline’s next chapter, helping unlock even more value from that powerful data to ensure every worker returns home safely.”
Career at Siemens and Amazon
Blackline Safety explained that in his current position at Siemens, Philomin leads Data and AI development for industrial applications.
It noted that during his time at Amazon he created Amazon Bedrock, a system allowing enterprises to build and scale generative AI applications.
The company said he was also involved in AWS’s generative AI and product strategy, including the design and deployment of foundation models through Bedrock.
Previous work at Philips
The organisation stated that before joining Amazon, Philomin worked at Philips where he led the development of connected lighting solutions.
It said these projects were applied to municipal infrastructure and well-known sites such as the Empire State Building and the Bay Bridge.
According to the company, Philomin also holds more than 100 United States patents across a range of technologies.
Academic background
Blackline Safety reported that Philomin holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Maryland.
The company added that his academic achievements provide a technical foundation that supports his commercial work in AI and connected technologies.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
Appointments to the board of technology firms such as Blackline Safety signal the growing integration of AI and connected systems into worker safety applications.
Philomin’s background in industrial AI and IoT suggests future product development may emphasise predictive and real-time monitoring tools.
For fire and safety professionals, this development points to potential advances in connected safety equipment and data-driven decision-making processes.
These changes may influence how organisations adopt new systems for incident response, hazard detection, and workforce protection.
Blackline Safety appoints Vasi Philomin to board of directors: Summary
Blackline Safety has appointed Vasi Philomin to its board of directors.
The appointment took effect on 11 September 2025.
Philomin is Executive Vice President, Data and AI at Siemens.
He was previously Vice President and General Manager of Generative AI at Amazon.
He created Amazon Bedrock for generative AI application development.
Philomin previously worked on connected lighting projects at Philips.
He holds more than 100 United States patents.
He earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland.
Cody Slater, CEO and Chair of Blackline Safety, welcomed the appointment.
Philomin said he was excited to support Blackline Safety’s use of data in safety.
Blackline Safety said his experience aligns with its focus on connected safety technology.
The company added that his expertise will support future service and product growth.