The incoming chief executive previously led Medtronic’s medical surgical portfolio and held leadership roles at GE Healthcare and IBM.
Olympus Corporation announced the appointment of Bob White as chief executive officer (CEO) as the company works to accelerate its ongoing transformation efforts in the medtech space.
White, who previously served as executive vice president and president of the medical surgical portfolio for Medtronic, will succeed Yasuo Takeuchi, Olympus’ director, representative executive officer, president, and CEO, effective June 1. White will also be proposed as a candidate for election to the board of directors at Olympus’ General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held in June 2025.
“We are pleased to name Bob to this pivotal leadership role. He possesses a wealth of experience garnered from his tenure at various esteemed organizations within the medical technology sector. I look forward to welcoming him as a leader who will bring extensive knowledge and expertise to the company,” says Takeuchi in a release. “Over the course of his career, Bob has demonstrated exceptional leadership in driving both transformative growth and strategic initiatives. I am truly pleased that he is bringing this profound expertise and insight to Olympus.”
White’s Background in Medtech
White served in his most recent roles for Medtronic until April 2024. Before then, he was senior vice president and president of Medtronic Asia Pacific, based in Singapore, where he had responsibility for APAC as well as Japan. During his tenure at Covidien, he held the positions of president of emerging markets and president of respiratory and monitoring solutions. He has seen numerous innovation programs and led several research and development initiatives and merger and acquisition transactions within complex business portfolios.
Prior to joining Medtronic, White held leadership positions at GE HealthCare, Merge Healthcare, and Healthcare Division, IBM.
“I am truly honored and grateful for the trust placed in me by the board of directors and the nominating committee. Olympus is an exceptional company, known for its market-leading solutions, cutting-edge technology, and remarkable people. I’m excited to bring my experience to the table and contribute to the company’s ongoing success and growth. I’ve long admired Olympus for its rich Japanese heritage, outstanding products, and unwavering commitment to serving the needs of both clinicians and patients,” says White in a release.
To select and recommend the best candidate for the next CEO, the nominating committee engaged an executive search firm and formed an advisory search committee in November 2024. After a comprehensive search process, Olympus determined that White is the ideal leader among a strong pool of internal and external candidates.
White holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Cleveland State University and an MBA in finance from Case Western Reserve University, USA. He currently resides in Colorado and will be located in Olympus global headquarters in Tokyo with his wife.
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