Covidien plc names Jose Almeida, head of its medical device division, to succeed retiring president and CEO Richard Meelia.
Covidien plc (NYSE:COV) announced a succession in its corner office, tapping the leader of its medical device unit to become its new president and CEO in July, replacing the retiring Richard Meelia.
The Mansfield, Mass.-based medical products conglomerate said Jose Almeida will become president and CEO of the company after Meelia steps down July 1. Almeida, a 16-year Covidien and Tyco Healthcare veteran, has been president of the company’s medical device division, its largest, since 2006. He’ll also become a member of Covidien’s board in July.
Meelia will stay on as non-executive chairman of Covidien’s board for a transition period of up to a year after his retirement, according to a press release.
Read more about Covidien’s new leader José Almeida.
“Rich Meelia has been a strong and highly effective leader, and his service as CEO is deeply appreciated,” lead director Timothy Donahue said in prepared remarks. “Under Joe’s dynamic leadership, Covidien will accelerate its drive to the frontiers of innovation. We are delighted that Joe will be our new chief executive officer, and we know Covidien shareholders, customers and employees will share our enthusiasm and excitement.”
Meelia, 62, was named president and CEO of Covidien in June 2007, after it was spun out of the disintegrating Tyco International. He was elected chairman in October 2008.
“Fortunately, I have been surrounded by a dedicated, talented and highly effective team for the past 20 years. It has been an honor to lead such an outstanding organization, and I look forward to continuing to serve on the Board,” he said in prepared remarks.
The Massachusetts Medical Devices Journal is the online journal of the medical devices industry in the Commonwealth and New England, providing day-to-day coverage of the devices that save lives, the people behind them, and the burgeoning trends and developments within the industry.
