Medtronic Appoints New Board Directors, Emphasizing Enhanced Prioritization of Shareholder Benefits
Medtronic Appoints John Groetelaars and Bill Jellison as Independent Directors
Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT) has announced the appointment of John Groetelaars and Bill Jellison as independent directors, effective immediately. The appointments follow constructive dialogue with Elliott Investment Management L.P.
John Groetelaars brings extensive leadership experience to the Medtronic board. He began his career with the Donnelly Corporation and has held various leadership positions at Dentsply International and Becton, Dickinson and Company. Most recently, Groetelaars served as the CEO of Hillrom, a healthcare technology company with over $3 billion in revenue and 10,000+ employees.
Groetelaars is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Zeus Industrial Products and a Board member for Parexel. He also served as the interim CEO for Dentsply Sirona and President & CEO at Hillrom. Groetelaars earned a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University and an MBA from Columbia University.
Bill Jellison brings a wealth of financial expertise to the Medtronic board. He served as the Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Stryker Corporation and spent 15 years at Dentsply International in several leadership positions. Jellison currently serves as a director of public companies Avient Corporation and Anika Therapeutics, Inc. and private companies Solenis and Young Innovations. He also holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Hope College.
The appointments of Groetelaars and Jellison come as Medtronic plans to align its governance with initiatives to optimize operational performance and deliver margin expansion. The company will host an Investor Day in mid-calendar year 2026 to discuss strategic priorities and financial algorithm.
In addition, Medtronic is planning to separate its Diabetes business. The company has formed two committees to guide this process: the Operating Committee and the Growth Committee. Geoff Martha, CEO and Chairman of Medtronic, will serve as Chair of both committees. John Groetelaars and Bill Jellison will serve on one or both of the committees.
The Operating Committee will be responsible for aligning governance with initiatives to optimize operational performance and deliver margin expansion. The Growth Committee will guide growth-accretive M&A, organic R&D investments, and potential divestitures.
Elliott Partner Marc Steinberg believes that Medtronic is entering a new chapter of exceptional value creation. Steinberg sees potential in Medtronic's recent innovations in attractive markets.
Medtronic will provide further details on its strategic priorities and financial algorithm during its Investor Day in 2026. The company's 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will take place where Groetelaars and Jellison will be nominated to stand for election to the Board.
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