Fresenius Medical Care appoints Charles Hugh-Jones as Global Chief Medical Officer and member of the Management Board

Rhea-AI Summary

Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE:FMS) appointed Charles Hugh-Jones as Global Chief Medical Officer and member of the Management Board, effective Jan 1, 2026. He succeeds Franklin W. Maddux, who will retire at year-end as part of a planned transition.

Hugh-Jones joins from Volastra Therapeutics after leadership roles at Allergan, Pfizer and Sanofi. The company highlighted the 5008X CAREsystem rollout in the U.S. and noted its network serves ~294,000 patients across 3,628 clinics worldwide.

Positive

• Management Board strengthened by experienced medical leader
• Direct successor named with Jan 1, 2026 effective date
• Company highlights U.S. 5008X CAREsystem rollout
• Global footprint: 294,000 patients in 3,628 clinics

Negative

• Planned retirement creates leadership transition risks into 2026

Key Figures

Effective date January 1, 2026 Start of Charles Hugh-Jones’ role as Global Chief Medical Officer

Age of Charles Hugh-Jones 56 years Stated age of incoming Global Chief Medical Officer

Age of Franklin W. Maddux 68 years Stated age of retiring Global Chief Medical Officer

Global dialysis patients 4.2 million patients Worldwide patients regularly undergoing dialysis treatment

Dialysis clinics network 3,628 clinics Company’s global network of dialysis clinics in article

Patients treated 294,000 patients Patients treated through Fresenius Medical Care clinics

Market Reality Check

$23.38 Last Close

Volume Volume 430,375 is slightly below the 20-day average of 463,355 (relative volume 0.93). normal

Technical Shares at 22.69 are trading below the 200-day MA of 25.73 and sit close to the 52-week low of 22.05.

Peers on Argus

FMS declined 0.61% with mixed peer moves: key names like EHC (-3.54%), THC (-2.09%), UHS (-0.74%) and DVA (-0.38%) were down, while HCA rose 0.52%, suggesting no clear sector-wide driver.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Nov 04	Q3 2025 earnings	Positive	-7.8%	Strong revenue and operating income growth with buyback progress reported.
Oct 30	Conference research	Positive	-0.8%	New real-world data on hemodiafiltration and AI tools at ASN Kidney Week.
Oct 01	Management change	Positive	+1.1%	Appointment of Joseph E. Turk to the Management Board for Care Enablement.
Sep 18	Strategy & VBC update	Positive	-0.4%	EUR 312m Interwell Health ownership increase and new VBC segment leader.
Aug 11	Share buyback	Positive	+0.2%	Announcement of first tranche of up to EUR 600m in a EUR 1bn buyback.

Pattern Detected

Recent history shows several positive strategic and financial updates followed by mixed or negative next-day moves, indicating that strong fundamentals have not consistently translated into short-term price gains.

Recent Company History

Over the past six months, Fresenius Medical Care reported solid Q3 2025 results with revenue of EUR 4,885m and operating income up strongly, yet the stock fell after the release. The company advanced its FME Reignite strategy via a EUR 312m Interwell Health stake increase and launched a share buyback program of up to EUR 1bn. It also highlighted innovation in AI and hemodiafiltration and refreshed leadership in Care Enablement. Today’s appointment of a new Global Chief Medical Officer continues this management-refresh trend.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details a planned leadership transition, with Charles Hugh-Jones becoming Global Chief Medical Officer on January 1, 2026 and Franklin W. Maddux retiring. It follows other recent Management Board changes and strategic initiatives, such as the FME Reignite program and share buybacks. Investors may focus on how the new CMO’s background aligns with Fresenius Medical Care’s large dialysis footprint of 4.2 million patients and 3,628 clinics, as execution of clinical strategy remains central.

Key Terms

renal diseases medical

"provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases of which around"

Renal diseases are conditions that damage the kidneys’ ability to filter waste, balance fluids, and regulate blood pressure, ranging from mild impairment to kidney failure that may require dialysis or transplant. For investors, these diseases drive demand for diagnostics, medicines, medical devices, and long-term care—think of kidneys as a home’s plumbing: when they fail, products and treatments to repair or replace that system become commercially important and can affect company revenues and regulatory scrutiny.

dialysis medical

"4.2 million patients worldwide regularly undergo dialysis treatment."

Dialysis is a medical treatment that cleans the blood and removes extra fluid when the kidneys can no longer do that job, using a machine or a filtered solution much like an external water filter for the body. It matters to investors because dialysis creates steady demand for specialized clinics, machines, supplies and drugs, driving predictable revenue streams, capital and regulatory risks, and long-term patient volumes that affect healthcare company valuations.

dialyzers medical

"leading provider of dialysis products such as dialysis machines or dialyzers."

Dialyzers are medical devices that act like an artificial kidney, filtering waste and excess fluid from the blood for patients with kidney failure. Think of them as a specialized water filter for the bloodstream; they are consumable components used each dialysis session and thus drive recurring revenue, supply chain needs, and regulatory scrutiny—factors that can directly affect healthcare companies’ sales, margins, and investor risk.

forward-looking statements regulatory

"This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks"

Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

• Effective January 1, 2026, Charles Hugh-Jones will join the Management Board as Global Chief Medical Officer
• As part of a planned transition Franklin W. Maddux will retire by year end

BAD HOMBURG, Germany, Dec. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Supervisory Board of Fresenius Medical Care, the world's leading provider of products and services for individuals with renal disease, has appointed Charles Hugh-Jones, MD, FRCP (56) as a member of the Management Board, effective January 1, 2026. Mr. Hugh-Jones will serve as Global Chief Medical Officer.

Mr. Hugh-Jones will succeed Franklin (Frank) W. Maddux, MD (68) as part of a planned transition after Mr. Maddux informed the Supervisory Board of his intention to retire.

Mr. Hugh-Jones most recently served as CEO of Volastra Therapeutics from its inception as a discovery-stage startup to a clinical-stage biotech company, advancing novel oncology assets. Prior to Volastra, he served as Chief Medical Officer at Allergan – later acquired by AbbVie –, overseeing global medical operations and leading major product launches across multiple therapeutic areas. He also held senior leadership roles at Pfizer and Sanofi, driving innovation in chronic disease care, diabetes, cardiovascular and other therapeutic areas. Mr. Hugh-Jones holds an MD from Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, University of London, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of the UK.

Michael Sen, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, commented: "We welcome Charles Hugh-Jones to the Management Board of Fresenius Medical Care. His expertise, experience and recognition as a leader in the medical area will be key to fostering Fresenius Medical Care´s leadership position in the renal area. We are delighted that we found such a capable successor." Michael Sen added: "On behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Frank for his excellent work and commitment over the past years. We wish him all the best for his retirement."

Helen Giza, CEO and Chair of the Management Board, said: "The Management Board is further strengthened by Charles' broad corporate experience and clinical leadership. He brings a fresh vantage point that reinforces our strength in renal care while pushing us to think wider and more creatively about the future of patient care. I would like to thank Frank for his dedication and contributions, which have left a lasting impact on our company. We wish him a very happy retirement and sincerely thank him for his outstanding service."

Charles Hugh-Jones said: "I am excited to join Fresenius Medical Care at a time when the company is about to set a new standard of kidney care in the U.S. with the rollout of the 5008X CAREsystem and continues to lead kidney care worldwide. The Global Medical Office will play an important role in advancing kidney care for patients and their families."

About Fresenius Medical Care:
Fresenius Medical Care is the world's leading provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases of which around 4.2 million patients worldwide regularly undergo dialysis treatment. Through its network of 3,628 dialysis clinics, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatments for approx. 294,000 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the leading provider of dialysis products such as dialysis machines or dialyzers. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME) and on the New York Stock Exchange (FMS).

For more information visit the Company's website at www.freseniusmedicalcare.com.

Disclaimer:
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, legal changes, regulatory approvals, results of clinical studies, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Fresenius Medical Care's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fresenius Medical Care does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.

Media contact
Christine Peters
T +49 160 60 66 770
christine.peters@freseniusmedicalcare.com

Contact for analysts and investors
Dr. Dominik Heger
T +49 6172 609 2601
dominik.heger@freseniusmedicalcare.com

www.freseniusmedicalcare.com

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SOURCE Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.

FAQ

Who is Charles Hugh-Jones and when does he start as Global Chief Medical Officer of FMS?

Charles Hugh-Jones, MD, FRCP, will join as Global Chief Medical Officer and Management Board member effective January 1, 2026.

Who will Charles Hugh-Jones succeed at Fresenius Medical Care (FMS)?

He will succeed Franklin (Frank) W. Maddux, MD, who will retire at year-end as part of a planned transition.

What relevant experience does the new FMS Global Chief Medical Officer have?

Hugh-Jones led Volastra Therapeutics as CEO and held senior medical roles at Allergan, Pfizer and Sanofi.

How large is Fresenius Medical Care's patient and clinic network mentioned in the announcement?

The company serves approximately 294,000 patients across 3,628 dialysis clinics worldwide.

What product rollout did Fresenius Medical Care highlight alongside the leadership change?

The company referenced the U.S. rollout of the 5008X CAREsystem as a near-term focus.