Folli’s appointment goes into effect on June 1. He succeeds Franco Poletti, who intends to retire on July 31. In the coming months, they plan to partner closely to ensure a seamless transition ahead of Folli’s full takeover on Aug. 1.
With his appointment, Folli joins the LivaNova executive leadership team. He reports to CEO Vladimir Makatsaria.
“Stefano is an accomplished healthcare and medtech executive with a sharp blend of strategic vision and operational excellence,” Makatsaria said. “With more than three decades of experience, he is known for his authentic, inspiring ability to lead teams to foster innovation, unlock talent potential, and deliver exceptional results. He will work to ensure a smooth transition ahead of Franco’s retirement later this summer.”
In his new role, Folli’s responsibilities include overseeing strategic growth for the nearly $800 million CP business. The unit includes a range of cardiopulmonary disposables and equipment, including the Essenz heart-lung machine.
Prior to taking on this new position, Folli spent 16 years at Dutch medtech giant Philips. There, he most recently served as EVP, global president for Ambulatory Monitoring & Diagnostics at Philips. Folli’s time at Philips included leading the business, integrating acquisitions and strengthening global market leadership.
Before Philips, Folli also served as CEO of Saeco Vending in Bologna, Italy, and served as a board director for Saeco Group.
“LivaNova has built a strong legacy in Cardiopulmonary, supported by deep customer trust and meaningful innovation,” said Folli. “I look forward to partnering with the global team to further strengthen execution, accelerate innovation, and continue advancing outcomes for patients and clinicians worldwide.”
