Medtronic Appoints Kate Benedict as President of Acute Care and Monitoring Division

Medtronic, a leading medical technology company, has announced the appointment of Kate Benedict as the new president of its Acute Care and Monitoring (ACM) business. This strategic move comes as part of Medtronic's ongoing efforts to streamline operations and strengthen its medical surgical portfolio.

Leadership Transition and Industry Experience

Kate Benedict brings over 25 years of healthcare industry experience to her new role at Medtronic. Most recently, she served as the president of Flex's global health solutions business, where she led a team focused on serving medical equipment and device customers. Benedict's extensive background includes executive positions at prominent healthcare companies such as BD, Alcon (a Novartis company), and Johnson & Johnson's surgical business, Ethicon.

In her new capacity, Benedict will not only lead the ACM division but also serve on the leadership team for Medtronic's medical surgical portfolio. She succeeds Frank Chan, who departed from Medtronic in April after two decades with the company to become the chief operating officer at Haemonetics.

Strategic Realignment of Medtronic's Portfolio

Benedict's appointment comes at a crucial time for Medtronic's ACM division, which has undergone significant changes in recent years. In late 2022, Medtronic had initially planned to spin out its respiratory interventions and patient monitoring divisions, which at the time generated a combined annual revenue of $2.2 billion. However, this decision was reversed in early 2024, leading to the consolidation of these businesses under the single ACM banner.

As part of this restructuring, Medtronic made the strategic decision to discontinue its Puritan Bennett ventilators, citing declining profitability. The company has since focused on investing in and strengthening its acute care and monitoring offerings, with Benedict now at the helm to drive this initiative forward.

Medtronic's Ongoing Portfolio Optimization

While solidifying its position in acute care and monitoring, Medtronic continues to refine its overall portfolio. The company recently announced plans to spin out its $2.8 billion diabetes division within the next 18 months, creating a separate entity focused on insulin delivery systems and wearable blood glucose monitors. This move follows the 2023 divestiture of Medtronic's kidney care unit through the Mozarc Medical joint venture with DaVita.

These strategic decisions reflect Medtronic's commitment to optimizing its operations and focusing on core areas of strength within the medical technology sector. As the company navigates these changes, Kate Benedict's leadership in the ACM division will play a crucial role in shaping Medtronic's future in critical care and patient monitoring technologies.