CEO of Cardinal Health Leaves, Company Snags JNJ Executive Cardinal Health, based in Dublin, Ohio,

CEO of Cardinal Health Leaves, Company Snags JNJ Executive
Cardinal Health, based in Dublin, Ohio, has named former Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) executive Donald M. Casey Jr. as its new medical segment CEO. Casey joins Cardinal from the Gary and Mary West Wireless Health Institute in La Jolla, Calif., where he served as the company’s first CEO. Prior to that, he spent 24 years at JNJ, where his most recent position was worldwide chairman of JNJ’s Comprehensive Care Group, including its cardiovascular, diagnostic, diabetes and vision franchises.

Donald M. Casey Jr.

“His track record of commercializing innovation, deep operational expertise and outstanding strategic leadership will be tremendous assets as we continue to grow our core businesses and expand our footprint,” Cardinal CEO George Barrett said of Casey in a statement.

Casey joined the sales and marketing department of JNJ-owned McNeil Consumer Products in 1985. Over the next 20 years he advanced through the corporate ranks, achieving the titles of company group chairman of LifeScan and Animas Corp., group chairman and president of the Vision Care Franchise, president of the Johnson & Johnson-Merck joint venture, and president of eJNJ. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ill.

Casey officially began his position as CEO of Cardinal’s medical products and services business on April 16th. His predecessor, Mike Lynch, will work with him for several weeks to ensure a seamless changeover. Lynch will continue in an advisory capacity until September, according to the company.

Mike Lynch

At age 51, Lynch isn’t at the retirement stage yet—he is leaving to pursue his ambition to lead a company in the Chicago, Ill., area. He has served as CEO of the Cardinal medical division since August 2009, and has held various positions with the company including president of glove products and group president of medical products manufacturing. He is a graduate of Cornell University in New York, N.Y.