Baxter (NYSE: BAX) interim CFO Anita Zielinski will depart from the company in September, according to SEC filings.
Zielinski is stepping down after less than two years at Baxter to pursue a new opportunity at Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH), where she will succeed Mary Scherer as its chief accounting officer and SVP of finance beginning on November 5.
Both Baxter and Cardinal Health filed with the SEC earlier this month to disclose the move. (The Cardinal Health filing noted that to address compensation forfeited at her former employer, Zielinski will receive a cash sign-on bonus of $750,000 and an initial grant of time-vesting restricted share units with a grant date value of $1 million that vest ratably over three years.)
Zielinski began her tenure as interim CFO at Baxter in March, after former CFO Joel Grade left the role to focus on family matters.
While in the interim role, Zielinski also maintained her responsibilities as SVP, chief accounting officer and controller, which she initially took on in February 2025.
Before coming to Baxter, she held senior financial leadership roles at Sysco, a major global foodservice company, and boasts a more than 20-year-long career at Ernst & Young, one of the ‘Big Four’ global accounting firms, where she served most recently as an audit partner.
Baxter has not yet publicly announced who will be succeeding Zielinski as CFO.
This change in leadership comes just after the Deerfield, Illinoi–-based medtech company reported ‘exceeding expectations’ in its second-quarter results.
Just last month, Baxter recorded increasing its full-year outlook from 0%-1% sales growth to 3%-4% growth and now expects an adjusted EPS between $1.95 and $2.15.
The company saw year-over-year sales growth in its Medical Products & Therapies (7%) and Healthcare Systems & Technologies (4%) segments. It also saw strong demand for Care & Connectivity Solutions products and a strong performance in Infusion Therapies & Platforms.
