By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : August 05, 2026 6:44 am
Montgomery brings nearly 25 years of experience across healthcare, commercial operations and research and development
Danaher Corporation has appointed Julie Sawyer Montgomery as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2026. She will also join the company's Board of Directors, succeeding Rainer Blair, who will retire from the role and serve as a senior advisor until March 31, 2027 to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
Announcing the appointment, Steven Rales, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said Julie Sawyer Montgomery's vision, operational expertise and customer-centric leadership make her well positioned to lead Danaher into its next phase of growth.
Montgomery brings nearly 25 years of experience across healthcare, commercial operations and research and development. Prior to becoming Executive Vice President, she served as President of Beckman Coulter Diagnostics after leading its commercial operations and R&D.
Montgomery joined Danaher in 2017 and has been instrumental in transforming the company's Diagnostics platform into a leading global business.
Most recently serving as Executive Vice President, she has overseen Danaher's Diagnostics platform and played a key role in major strategic acquisitions, including Masimo's consumer business and the pending acquisition of StatLab. She also helped strengthen the Danaher Business System across the company's Life Sciences and Diagnostics businesses.
Mitchell Rales, Chairman of Danaher's Executive Committee, said Montgomery has consistently driven market share gains and operational excellence across the diagnostics portfolio.
Danaher also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing CEO Rainer Blair, who has led the company since 2020.
During his tenure, Blair spearheaded Danaher's transformation into a focused life sciences and diagnostics leader, guided the company through the COVID-19 pandemic, and strengthened its global innovation capabilities.