After 22 years of training at Stryker Corporation, including serving as CFO and interim CEO, Curt Hartman is running his own ship.
After a tumultuous 2014, ConMed Corporation announced on November 10, 2014 that Hartman has been chosen to be the next president and CEO of the company. Hartman joined the company’s board in March 2014 after a shareholder fight and was appointed interim CEO in July 2014.
Hartman at Stryker
Hartman joined Stryker in 1990 as a manufacturing engineer. In 1999 he became general manager of Stryker Instruments. Ten years later the engineer became Stryker’s chief financial officer before being named interim CEO when then-CEO Stephen McMillan abruptly left Stryker. The ConMed announcement said that Hartman’s hands were on a number of initiatives at Stryker which included the successful completion of multiple acquisitions, debt offerings, share buybacks and “an enhanced dividend policy while innovating the business model to address the changing healthcare landscape.”
Mark Tryniski, ConMed’s chairman said the board’s decision was based not only on Hartman’s previous industry experience and demonstrated results, “but also on the leadership qualities he has displayed while in the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer at ConMed. Curt has a thorough understanding of our business and operations, and a deep appreciation for the hard work and talent of our employees. We…believe that he will lead the company effectively into its next chapter of growth, profitability and improved performance.”
Focus on Operation Performance
“Through a renewed focus on operating performance and innovation, we will drive revenue and earnings growth, and build ConMed into the first choice for our customers’ needs, ” added Hartman.
ConMed Renewed
For ConMed 2014 has been a make-over year as dissident shareholders led by San Francisco-based Voce Capital sought to wrestle control of the company away from the founding family, the Corasantis. Coppersmith Capital joined the fray and became the company’s largest shareholder. Coppersmith reached an agreement with Eugene Corasanti, founder of ConMed and its long-time CEO, agreed to resign as Chairman of the Board and also agreed to not stand for re-election as a director in 2015.
ConMed
“ConMed is a medical technology company with an emphasis on surgical devices and equipment for minimally invasive procedures. The Company’s products are used by surgeons and physicians in a variety of specialties including orthopedics, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery and gastroenterology. Headquartered in Utica, New York, the Company’s 3, 600 employees distribute its products worldwide from several manufacturing locations.” The company “has a direct selling presence in 16 countries outside the U.S. and international sales constitute more than 50% of the company’s total sales.”
