Sawyer Montgomery’s appointment goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2026. On that date, Rainer Blair intends to retire, serving as a senior advisor until March 31, 2027, to ensure a seamless transition.
Since she joined the company in 2017, Sawyer Montgomery’s track record includes turning the Diagnostics unit into a market-leading franchise. Under her leadership, the business went from about $6 billion in revenue in 2017 to approximately $11 billion today, while tripling operating profit.
The new CEO brings nearly 25 years of experience across healthcare, commercial operations and R&D. She joined the company in 2017 at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics. There, she led commercial operations and R&D before becoming president in 2020. Since then, she held roles of increasing responsibility. Most recently, she served as EVP of Danaher, with responsibility for its Diagnostics platform.
Washington, D.C.–based Danaher operates across life sciences spaces, with a range of businesses spanning laboratory equipment, diagnostics, biotechnology and more. Sawyer Montgomery takes over just after the company completed a $10 billion acquisition of Masimo as well. According to the company, she led that acquisition and led Masimo after Katie Szyman’s post-acquisition exit as CEO of the digital health pioneer.
Also today. Danaher named Tim Benner as Masimo’s new president. A veteran of Edwards Lifesciences, Abbott, Terumo, and Inari Medical/Stryker, Benner joined Masimo’s executive team in June 2025.
Commentary from Danaher leadership
Steven Rales, Danaher board chair, said:
“In alignment with the board of directors’ succession planning process, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Julie as our next chief executive officer. We are at a uniquely opportune moment for Danaher, with untapped potential to accelerate growth across the enterprise. Julie has the vision, experience, and proven track record to deliver on that potential. I am confident she will lead our company into its next phase of growth and value creation with a demonstrated commitment to innovation, commercial excellence, and operational rigor, all grounded in strategy. She is deeply engaged with customers, and a staunch advocate for patients as well as the company’s associates.”
Mitchell Rales, chair of Danaher’s executive committee, said:
“As we continue to strengthen our business, we are excited to have Julie as our new CEO. Under her leadership, the Diagnostics platform has consistently gained share in attractive end markets. She has played a pivotal role in transforming the performance of the Diagnostics business and led the recent acquisition of Masimo and pending acquisition of StatLab. She has also optimized the Danaher Business System to further drive performance across our Life Sciences and Diagnostics businesses. Her ability to accelerate growth and deliver results positions her well to lead the company forward.”
Sawyer Montgomery said:
“I am honored to lead Danaher into its next chapter and want to thank Rainer for his leadership. Danaher’s global portfolio has tremendous potential with differentiated positions in some of the most attractive life sciences and diagnostics market segments. We have the opportunity to unleash the full power of Danaher as we accelerate innovation, enhance our business capabilities, and more effectively leverage the Danaher Business System across our businesses. We have a highly-talented team that is well-positioned to deliver innovation at the speed of life, generating more consistent growth and creating significant value for our shareholders.”
Steven Rales added:
“On behalf of the Danaher Board, executive team, and all associates, I want to thank Rainer for his leadership of Danaher over the past six years. Rainer played a critical role in driving Danaher’s portfolio transformation, building an industry-leading life sciences and diagnostics company. Importantly, he guided Danaher and our 60,000+ global associates through the COVID-19 pandemic, enhancing the company’s standing as a world-class science and technology innovator. We thank him for his many contributions to the company.”
Blair said:
“It has been a privilege of a lifetime to spend the majority of my career at Danaher and to serve as president and CEO. I am proud of the work we have done together to strengthen and grow our portfolio, expand our impact, and position the company for long-term success. I retire with great pride in all we have accomplished together and complete confidence in Danaher’s future under Julie’s leadership.”
