Solventum Appoints Heather Knight as Chief Commercial Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Solventum (NYSE: SOLV) appointed Heather Knight as Chief Commercial Officer, effective November 10, 2025. In this newly created role she will oversee global commercial and R&D operations for MedSurg, Dental Solutions and Health Information Systems and will report to CEO Bryan Hanson.

Ms. Knight brings over 30 years of MedTech leadership, most recently serving as COO at Baxter where she led global sales, R&D, supply chain and regulatory affairs. Chris Barry, Executive VP and Group President of MedSurg, will depart effective December 31, 2025. The company said the change does not impact financial guidance and will provide an update with third quarter results in early November.

Positive

• New CCO role centralizes go-to-market across three segments
• Heather Knight brings over 30 years of MedTech experience
• Appointment effective November 10, 2025, giving clear start date
• Company states the change does not impact financial guidance

Negative

• Departure of MedSurg leader Chris Barry effective December 31, 2025
• Leadership transition may disrupt largest segment during handover

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Solventum (NYSE: SOLV) announced today the appointment of Heather Knight as Chief Commercial Officer, effective November 10, 2025. In this newly created role, Ms. Knight will oversee global commercial and R&D operations across Solventum's MedSurg, Dental Solutions and Health Information Systems segments, and will report directly to CEO Bryan Hanson.

Ms. Knight brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the MedTech industry. Most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Baxter International, where she led global sales across three business segments, as well as R&D, supply chain, and medical and regulatory affairs. Throughout her career, Ms. Knight has held numerous roles of increasing leadership in general management, global upstream and commercial capacities at companies including Medtronic, Covidien, Tyco Healthcare and Kendall, and she currently serves on the Board of Directors of Waters Corporation.

Mr. Hanson said, "Heather's appointment to the new role of Chief Commercial Officer reflects Solventum's commitment to building a high-performing organization and progress to becoming a leading global MedTech company. By aligning our go-to-market strategy under one leader, we will enhance our ability to leverage the size and scale of Solventum, driving more coordinated execution and profitable growth. Heather is an industry veteran who brings a long history of strategic vision, commercial discipline and deep sector experience that will be instrumental as we execute our transformation as a standalone company." 

"I am thrilled to join Solventum at this pivotal time in the execution of the Company's multi-year strategic plan," said Ms. Knight. "Solventum has leading businesses with the right to win in their respective markets, and I look forward to working with the team to continue strengthening commercial productivity and market development."

In connection with Ms. Knight's appointment, Chris Barry, Executive Vice President and Group President of MedSurg, will depart Solventum, effective December 31, 2025.

Mr. Hanson continued, "I want to thank Chris for his tremendous leadership and contributions to Solventum. Chris has played an important role in leading our largest business segment, and we are pleased that he will stay with us through the remainder of the year to support a seamless transition."

This change does not impact Solventum's financial guidance. The Company will provide its next update in the normal course when third quarter results are reported in early November.

About Solventum
At Solventum, we enable better, smarter, safer healthcare to improve lives. As a new company with a long legacy of creating breakthrough solutions for our customers' toughest challenges, we pioneer game-changing innovations at the intersection of health, materials and data science that change patients' lives for the better — while empowering healthcare professionals to perform at their best. See how at Solventum.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information about Solventum's business prospects that contain or incorporate by reference statements that relate to future events and expectations and, as such, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "goal," "guidance," "intends," "may," "outlook," "plans," "projects," "seeks," "sees," "should," "targets," "will," "would," or other words of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance or business plans or prospects. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements are the following: (1) the effects of, and changes in, worldwide economic, political, regulatory, international, trade and geopolitical conditions, natural disasters, war, public health crises, and other events beyond Solventum's control; (2) operational execution risks; (3) damage to Solventum's reputation or its brands; (4) risks from acquisitions, strategic alliances, divestitures and other strategic events, including the divestiture of our Purification and Filtration business; (5) Solventum's business dealings involving third-party partners in various markets; (6) Solventum's ability to access the capital and credit markets and changes in Solventum's credit ratings; (7) exposure to interest rate and currency risks; (8) the highly competitive environment in which Solventum operates and consolidation in the healthcare industry; (9) reduction in customers' research budgets or government funding; (10) the timing and market acceptance of Solventum's new product and service offerings; (11) ongoing working relationships with certain key healthcare professionals; (12) changes in reimbursement practices of governments or private payers or other cost containment measures; (13) Solventum's ability to obtain components or raw materials supplied by third parties and other manufacturing and related supply chain difficulties, interruptions, and disruptive factors; (14) legal and regulatory proceedings and legal compliance risks (including third-party risks) with regards to antitrust, FCPA and other anti-bribery laws, environmental laws, anti-kickback and false claims laws, privacy laws, product liability claims, tax laws, and other laws and regulations in the United States and other countries in which Solventum operates; (15) potential liabilities related to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively known as "PFAS"; (16) risks related to the highly regulated environment in which Solventum operates; (17) risks associated with product liability claims; (18) climate change and measures to address climate change; (19) security breaches and other disruptions to information technology infrastructure; (20) Solventum's failure to obtain, maintain, protect, or effectively enforce its intellectual property rights; (21) pension and postretirement obligation liabilities; (22) any failure by 3M Company ("3M") to perform any of its obligations under the various separation agreements entered into in connection with the separation of Solventum from 3M (the "Spin-Off"); (23) any failure to realize the expected benefits of the Spin-Off; (24) a determination by the IRS or other tax authorities that the Spin-Off or certain related transactions should be treated as taxable transactions; (25) financing transactions undertaken in connection with the Spin-Off and risks associated with additional indebtedness; (26) the risk that incremental costs of operating on a standalone basis (including the loss of synergies), costs of restructuring transactions and other costs incurred in connection with the Spin-Off will exceed Solventum's estimates; and (27) the impact of the Spin-Off on Solventum's businesses and the risk that the Spin-Off may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, including the impact on Solventum's resources, systems, procedures and controls, diversion of management's attention and the impact on relationships with customers, suppliers, employees and other business counterparties.

The above list is not exhaustive or necessarily set forth in the order of importance. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, and actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those reflected in any such forward-looking statements depending on a variety of factors. A further description of these factors is located under "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in Solventum's periodic reports on file with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. Solventum assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements discussed herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

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SOURCE Solventum

FAQ

When does Heather Knight start as Solventum Chief Commercial Officer (SOLV)?

Her start date is November 10, 2025.

Which Solventum businesses will CCO Heather Knight oversee (SOLV)?

She will oversee MedSurg, Dental Solutions and Health Information Systems global commercial and R&D operations.

Who will Heather Knight report to at Solventum (SOLV)?

She will report directly to CEO Bryan Hanson.

What happens to current MedSurg leader Chris Barry at Solventum (SOLV)?

Chris Barry will depart the company, effective December 31, 2025, and will remain through year-end to support the transition.

Does Heather Knight’s appointment change Solventum’s financial guidance (SOLV)?

The company said the change does not impact Solventum's financial guidance.

When will Solventum provide more investor updates after the CCO appointment (SOLV)?

Solventum will provide its next update with third quarter results in early November 2025.