Carl Zeiss Meditec AG announced that President and CEO Dr. Markus Weber will be stepping down from his role as leader and member of the company’s Executive Board.
Wow. First, tell me about Dr. Weber.
A +22-year veteran of ZEISS, German-born Dr. Weber has served in varying roles at the company, including ZEISS Group, ZEISS Microscopy, ZEISS Medical Technology, and Carl Zeiss Meditech (per LinkedIn):
- Scientist
- Project Manager
- Head of Advanced Development
- Senior Vice President Corporate, Research & Technology
- Co-CEO and Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- President and CEO
Most recently: He served as president and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditech AG and as a member of the Executive Board of ZEISS Group from 2022.
Now to this departure. It seems … sudden.
It does, doesn’t it? The company reported that this decision was made by Dr. Weber himself— “of his own accord and on the best of terms with [ZEISS’s] Supervisory Board.”
The reason (or at least: the reasoning being reported): Dr. Weber is interested in pursuing “a new challenge outside of the ZEISS Group.”
- "After 22 years at ZEISS and being in my early 50s, now is the right time to once again take on an entirely new challenge,” he stated.
How has the company responded to this?
Andreas Pecher, who is chairman of the Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Supervisory Board as well as president and CEO of Carl Zeiss AG, noted that, under Dr. Weber’s leadership, the division “has laid a very important strategic foundation and, as a technology leader in ophthalmology and microsurgery, is very well positioned for the future.”
- A notable achievement during Dr. Weber’s tenure: The 2023 acquisition of the Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (D.O.R.C.), a global manufacturer and supplier of ophthalmic surgery-based techniques, instruments, liquids, and equipment.
And while Precher noted the company “very much regret[s] [Dr. Werber’s] decision” to step down, he added that they “wish him all the best in his future endeavors."
Interesting … and when is this move effective?
The end of this month (May 31).
Got it. So, has a new leader been named yet?
Indeed: Maximilian Foerst will become the new head of Carl Zeiss Medictec AG on June 1.
His ZEISS background: With over 25 years of ZEISS experience in varying roles, Foerst has served as the head of ZEISS Greater China since 2009.
- His current responsibilities: Presiding over all business activities for that market as well as various production sites, innovation centers, regional support functions, and +7K employees spanning across 30+ locations.
See here and check out this rundown for more on his experience and roles at the company, including previously holding two key positions at ZEISS Medical Technology:
- Director of Sales and Marketing
- Head of Product Management for Lasers
- Within the Ophthalmology strategic business unit
And has the company commented on this new appointment?
Pecher spoke on behalf of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, noting that Foerst has key expertise working in challenging international business and markets.
“[He] successfully built up and expanded the ZEISS Group’s business [at ZEISS Medical Technology] in what for us is currently the strongest market globally in terms of revenue,” Pecher stated.
And what has Foerst said about assuming this new role?
In speaking on his upcoming position amidst "challenging times,” Foerst noted the long-term potential of innovative medical technology “is based on megatrends such as demographic change, the increasing importance of health and digitalization.”
He added: “Now, we have to leverage this with a keen eye to the diverse requirements of our global markets."