Namal Nawana appointed CEO of Smith & Nephew

Most recently, Namal was Chief Executive Officer of medical diagnostics company Alere, Inc., where he oversaw its $5.3 billion acquisition by Abbott in 2017. He joined Alere as Chief Operating Officer in December 2012. Prior to Alere, Namal spent more than 15 years at Johnson & Johnson, primarily in its Medical Devices & Diagnostics segment, in a number of progressively senior commercial leadership roles across markets including in the USA, Asia and Europe. In 2011 he became Worldwide President of DePuy Synthes Spine, where he oversaw a transformation programme including substantial margin improvement and the integration of Synthes following its acquisition in 2012. Namal will succeed Olivier Bohuon, who will step down from the Board on 7 May. During his notice period, Olivier will be available in an advisory capacity to provide advice and assistance to Namal in his new role, to help ensure a smooth transition. Namal Nawana commented: “I am passionate about the medical devices industry where I have worked all my life and it is an honour to become the new Chief Executive of Smith & Nephew, a company I greatly admire. I am most excited by its portfolio of innovation which I believe gives an excellent platform from which to drive the business forward into its next exciting chapter.”