“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.
“We have activated our succession planning process to identify a new chief technology officer,” Medtronic spokeswoman Erika Winkels said.
Medical Design & Outsourcing: Ken Washington has a new role with a medtech supplier as he retires from Medtronic
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 EVP and Cardiovascular Portfolio President Sean Salmon left the company in September after Medtronic replaced him with Skip Kiil in May. Kiil was previously president of the Cranial & Spinal Technologies (CST) Operating Unit.
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 May, former SVP, Global Controller and Chief Accounting Officer Jennifer Kirk left the company to become CEO of Exubrion Therapeutics in Gainesville, Georgia. Medtronic filled her role by promoting Denise Blomquist from the position of assistant global controller.
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
