Six months after CEO’s resignation, Olympus names new top executive | Business News
TOKYO, JAPAN- Six months after its CEO resigned amid allegations he purchased illegal drugs, med-tech company Olympus Corporation has named a new top executive.
Bob White will step into the role effective June 1, 2025, the company said in a news release.
Olympus, with a global headquarters in Tokyo, relocated its U.S. operations to Upper Saucon Township in 2006.
White, who lives in Colorado, most recently served as Executive Vice President and President of the Medical Surgical Portfolio for Medtronic, a healthcare technology company.
Prior to joining Medtronic, White held leadership positions at GE Healthcare, Merge Healthcare and Healthcare Division, IBM, Olympus said in a news release.
White also will be a candidate for election to the company’s board of directors. Shareholders will next meet in June.
White issued a comment, following Friday’s announcement:
“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.”
White will take the reins from Yasuo Takeuchi, who has been serving as interim CEO since Stefan Kaufmann was asked to resign in October of 2024. The company’s board asked for his resignation after determining he “likely engaged in behaviors that were inconsistent with our Global Code of Conduct, Our Core Values, and our corporate culture,” the company said at the time.
The company said it received an allegation that Kaufmann had purchased illegal drugs. According to the Japan Times, Kaufmann bought illegal drugs believed to be cocaine and MDMA on three occasions in Tokyo between June and November 2023.
In December of 2024, Kaufmann pleaded guilty to a drug charge and received a 10-month prison sentence that was suspended for three years, the Japan Times reported.
Olympus is a medical technology company that was founded in Tokyo in 1919.
It now focuses on the manufacturing of diagnostic and therapeutic tools in three areas of healthcare: GI (gastrointestinal tract), urology, and respiratory. By some estimates, Olympus holds a roughly 70 percent share of the global endoscope market.