Former Stryker (NYSE:SYK) CEO Stephen MacMillan had nothing but praise for successor Kevin Lobo, whose appointment to the corner office at the orthopedic giant was announced today.
He wasn’t surprised that Stryker picked Lobo, MacMillan told MassDevice.com at when we caught up with him today at industry lobby AdvaMed’s annual conference in Boston.
"He’s by far the best choice. I’m frankly happy to have him carry on our legacy," MacMillan told us. "They made a great choice in Kevin."
Lobo was one of MacMillan’s recruits, joining the company in early 2011, the former executive said.
"Kevin has a lot of outside experience and he clearly understands the company," he added. "He’s a natural choice and it’s the best of both worlds."
Lobo is taking over the corner office from Curt Hartman, who served as interim CEO since MacMillan resigned amid controversy in February of this year.
Hartman, who served as CFO prior to his stint in the corner office, will temporarily serve an advisory position before leaving the company, according to Stryker.
Analysts had previously suggested that Stryker might make Hartman’s interim role official, but the company refused to comment on the rumors at the time.
"Hartman, who has served as Stryker’s interim CEO since February of this year, has decided to pursue opportunities outside of Stryker, but has agreed to stay on as an Advisor to the CEO to assure a smooth transition as the company conducts a search for a permanent CFO," according to a Stryker press release.
Neither Hartman nor MacMillan have announced where they’ll be headed next, but MacMillan told us today that he’s weighing his options and plans to make a decision soon.
