Washington, District of Columbia, USA, August 2026 — Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) (“Danaher” or “the Company”) announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has appointed Julie Sawyer Montgomery as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, effective October 1, 2026. On that date, Rainer Blair will retire and serve as a senior advisor until March 31, 2027 to ensure a seamless transition.
“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,” said Steven Rales, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Danaher. “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.”
Since joining the Company in 2017, Ms. Sawyer Montgomery has played a key role in transforming Danaher’s Diagnostics platform into a market-leading franchise, helping grow the business from approximately $6.0 billion in revenue in 2017 to approximately $11.0 billion today, while approximately tripling operating profit.
“As we continue to strengthen our business, we are excited to have Julie as our new CEO,” added Mitchell Rales, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Danaher. “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.”
Ms. Sawyer Montgomery brings nearly 25 years of experience across healthcare, commercial operations, and R&D to her role. She joined the Company in 2017 at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, where she led commercial operations and R&D before becoming President in 2020. Since then, she has held roles of increasing responsibility, most recently serving as Executive Vice President of Danaher, with responsibility for the Diagnostics platform.
“I am honored to lead Danaher into its next chapter and want to thank Rainer for his leadership,” said Ms. Sawyer Montgomery. “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.”
“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,” said Steven Rales. “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.”
“It has been a privilege of a lifetime to spend the majority of my career at Danaher and to serve as President and CEO,” said Mr. Blair. “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.”
In conjunction with Ms. Sawyer Montgomery’s appointment, Danaher has announced special equity incentive awards for key leadership members and founders.
There is no change to Danaher’s previously communicated third quarter and full-year 2026 guidance.
ABOUT DANAHER
Danaher is a leading global life sciences and diagnostics innovator, committed to accelerating the power of science and technology to improve human health. Through our connected ecosystem of industry-leading businesses, we work side by side with customers to solve many of their most complex scientific and clinical challenges—helping move innovations from discovery to delivery faster for patients who depend on them. Powered by the Danaher Business System, our advanced science and technology and proven ability to innovate help enable faster, more accurate diagnoses and reduce the time, cost, and risk required to discover, develop, and deliver life-changing therapies. Through continuous improvement and operational excellence, our approximately 60,000 associates worldwide are focused on delivering lasting impact and improving quality of life around the world, while building a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow.
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