Ambu today said it has hired Board Member Britt Meelby Jensen to replace CEO Juan Jose Gonzalez effective tomorrow.
“Since Juan Jose Gonzalez joined as CEO in 2019, Ambu has made good progress and achieved important milestones on the strategic transformation into the world’s largest single-use endoscopy company,” Ambu Chair Jørgen Jensen said in a news release. “However, the COVID-19 pandemic, the recent macroeconomic headwind and a weaker than originally expected financial performance require that we execute differently on our strategy.”
Jørgen Jensen said Ambu’s overall strategic direction has not changed, but that the board, Britt Meelby Jensen and her leadership team will “evaluate the need for tactical and operational adjustments to the strategy.”
“With more than 20 years of experience within healthcare and general management, and her work on the Ambu board, we are convinced that Britt Meelby Jensen is the right profile to take over as CEO as we continue to lead the way in the creation of the single-use endoscopy market,” Jørgen Jensen said.
Britt Meelby Jensen was CEO of Malmö, Sweden-based medical device developer Altos Medical from 2019 until March 1, stepping down after the laryngectomy care company’s acquisition by Humlebaek, Denmark-based Coloplast.
Before that, she was CEO of Zealand Pharma (Nasdaq:ZEAL) from 2015 to 2019, leading the Copenhagen-based diabetes company through its 2017 IPO.
“I’m honored and excited to take on the position as CEO and to get the opportunity to contribute with my experience and insight to strengthen Ambu’s position on the single-use endoscopy market, together with our talented colleagues around the world,” Britt Meelby Jensen said in the news release. From my time on the board, I have a good knowledge of the company, the products and the market.”
Jørgen Jensen also thanked Gonzalez for his work at Ambu.
“I’m proud of my contributions to develop the single-use endoscopy market and to strengthen Ambu’s position in the market,” Gonzalez said in the news release. “Ambu is one of the fastest-growing medtech companies and I remain confident of Ambu’s potential. I wish Britt the best of luck in her new position.”
Ballerup, Denmark-based Ambu is one of the largest medtech firms in the world, ranking No. 79 on Medical Design & Outsourcing‘s 2021 Big 100 list.
Ambu said the announcement does not change its financial guidance.