Telehealth software provider Coviu names new CEO as Co-Founder steps down

Leading telehealth software provider Coviu has named Diana Pitts as its new Chief Executive Officer following successful leadership stints at Safewill and Mable.

Key points

• Coviu is a leading provider of telehealth and teleassessment software for industries including aged care, healthcare and allied health; during the COVID-19 pandemic its usage increased by 6000%
• Diana Pitts has more than a decade’s experience in disability care, healthcare and technology sectors with recent leadership roles at Mable as Head of Operations and Safewill, an online Will writing platform, as Chief Operating Officer
• She is also the Vice Chair and Non-Executive Director of the Physical Disability Council of NSW and a Non-Executive Director of the Australian Leadership Hub
• Ms Pitts will begin her tenure on March 18, succeeding Coviu Co-Founder Dr Silvia Pfeiffer; Dr Pfeiffer will remain part of the Coviu board as a non-executive director

It was only in January when Coviu Co-Founder and CEO Dr Pfeiffer revealed she would be stepping down from her position after six years at the helm. Dr Pfeiffer was instrumental in helping the company evolve from a startup project within CSIRO Data61, alongside Co-Founder Nathan Oehlman.

“Establishing a successful healthcare technology company in Australia is no small feat, and I take immense pride in what Nathan and I have accomplished over the last five years since spinning out of the CSIRO,” Dr Pfeiffer said.

“Pre-consolidation, post-pandemic, Coviu boasted a team of 55 across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the US. Today, we support over 100,000 clinicians and have touched the lives of more than 10 million patients through our incredible customers – a feat that truly warms my heart.”

The arrival of Ms Pitts ushers in a new phase for Coviu and its customer base, which includes various government departments, Healthdirect and the Australian Physiotherapy Association. 

Ms Pitts is no stranger to rapid growth, having served as Mable’s Head of Operations from 2020-22, securing over $100 million in investment for the private equity-backed online marketplace. During her tenure, Mable doubled revenue in two years, improved operational efficiencies and spearheaded new initiatives in trust and safety, earning recognition in prestigious lists like the AFR Fast 100 and Deloitte Tech Fast 50.

Coviu’s incoming CEO said she has always brought a data-driven, customer-centric and people-focused approach to whatever she does.

“My style revolves around first understanding the business fundamentally, including its unique characteristics, the markets in which we operate and how we deliver value to drive rapid growth,” Ms Pitts said. 

“Particularly in an environment where many health practitioners are time-poor, it is even more crucial that our efforts align with the customer experience and that we continuously strive to improve based on their feedback.”

Jenny Aiken, Chair of Coviu’s Board, said the organisation was delighted to appoint Ms Pitts after an extensive search.

“We are confident she has the right skill set and commercial acumen to lead Coviu into its next stage of growth, building upon the solid foundations and success the company has achieved. We believe that her industry experience and talent for leading teams that deliver significant value is exactly what Coviu needs,” Ms Aiken said.

After experiencing rapid and sustained growth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Pitts said the focus is to continue collaborating with like-minded partners to ensure healthcare accessibility keeps improving. 

This goal also includes global outcomes as Ms Pitts said there is a great opportunity to gain knowledge from international markets and scenarios related to virtual healthcare.

“When you consider macro-environmental trends such as aging demographics worldwide, regional and remote healthcare disparities, and the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth emerges as a crucial solution,” she added.