MassDevice
The Medical Device Business Journal — Medical Device News & Articles | MassDevice
By
After joining Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) as its first chief innovation officer in 2023, Ken Washington says he’s retiring from the world’s largest medical device company on Nov. 14
“It’s a bittersweet moment,” he said on LinkedIn. “While I’m excited to spend more time with my wife, Angela, and our six wonderful grandkids, I will deeply miss this amazing company and the people who make it so special. Medtronic is unlike any place I’ve worked. The Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — drives everything. That sense of purpose inspired me every day to bring my best to the role.”
“I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished together — from advancing AI and digital technologies, robotics, and sustainability, updating the Technology Development Centers structure, and more,” he continued. “I’m confident these efforts will continue to thrive under continued strong leadership. To Geoff Martha and my Medtronic colleagues, thank you for your trust, collaboration, and shared commitment to advancing innovation that improves lives. Serving as Medtronic’s inaugural chief technology officer has been an honor and being part of this extraordinary Mission a true privilege.”
Medtech pay analysis: Medtronic reports double-digit pay hikes for CEO Geoff Martha and other top executives
Washington was a leading booster of artificial intelligence at Medtronic and previously served as VP and GM of consumer robotics at Amazon and chief technology officer at Ford Motor Co.
He did not say whether Medtronic will name someone to take on the chief technology officer and/or chief innovation officer roles. More information was not yet available from Medtronic. We’ll update this story if we hear back on a successor.
It’s the latest high-level departure at Medtronic, following this week’s news that Enterprise Operations EVP Greg Smith plans to retire from Medtronic on Dec. 2 for a private-equity-held organization.
Medtronic SVP and Chief Communications Officer Torod Neptune announced his own departure from the company in August, shortly after EVP, General Counsel and Secretary Ivan Fong retired in July.
In March, Thierry Piéton joined Medtronic as CFO, filling the vacancy left when Karen Parkhill resigned in June 2024 to join HP. Former Medtronic Corporate Finance SVP Gary Corona, who filled in as interim CFO, is now CFO and EVP at St. Louis Park, Minnesota-based Nvent.
Medtronic said in August that it is working with activist investor Elliott Investment Management, expanding Medtronic’s board to 13 people with the addition of two independent directors and creating two special board committees: a Growth Committee to examine tuck-in M&A opportunities, R&D spending strategy, and more; and an Operating Committee to look at optimizing operational performance.
Read more at Medical Design & Outsourcing: Medtronic CEO Geoff Martha explains activist investor changes and offers updates on MiniMed and Hugo
Filed Under: Business/Financial News, Featured, News Well
Jim Hammerand is the managing editor of Medical Design & Outsourcing. He has more than two decades of journalism experience spanning newspapers, magazines, websites, live events, radio and TV news. For nearly a decade, Hammerand reported and edited business news for American City Business Journals as a reporter and digital editor at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and then managing editor of the Puget Sound Business Journal in Seattle. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota. He is based near Seattle, Washington, where he and his family live. Connect with him on LinkedIn or by email at [email protected].
Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.
Privacy Policy
