Solventum Appoints New Chief Commercial Officer, Reshapes Leadership

Solventum, the recently spun-off healthcare technology company from 3M, has announced a significant leadership change with the appointment of Heather Knight as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). This move comes as part of a broader restructuring of the company's executive team and commercial strategy.

Knight's Appointment and Responsibilities

Heather Knight, formerly the Chief Operating Officer at Baxter, will assume her new role at Solventum effective November 10. In this newly created position, Knight will oversee global commercial and R&D operations across Solventum's medical surgical, dental solutions, and health information systems segments. Reporting directly to CEO Bryan Hanson, Knight's appointment is aimed at enhancing the company's go-to-market strategy and driving coordinated execution for profitable growth.

Leadership Transition and Strategic Alignment

The addition of Knight to Solventum's executive team coincides with the departure of Chris Barry, the current group president of medsurg. Barry, who joined 3M just before the Solventum spinoff and led the standalone company's medsurg business, will be leaving at the end of 2025. This transition period is designed to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.

CEO Bryan Hanson emphasized the strategic importance of Knight's role, stating, "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."

Industry Implications and Baxter's Response

Knight's move from Baxter to Solventum represents a significant shift in the healthcare technology sector. At Baxter, Knight served as COO and interim group president of medical products and therapies, overseeing day-to-day business operations, including global sales, marketing, R&D, supply chain, and medical and regulatory affairs.

In response to Knight's departure, Baxter has announced that CEO Andrew Hider will assume direct responsibility for the medical products and therapies business. The company has opted not to immediately fill the COO position, signaling a potential restructuring of its own executive leadership team.