Baxter’s CFO Departing, Interim Finance Chief Named

Baxter announced the departure of executive VP and chief financial officer (CFO) Joel Grade. The company said Grade is leaving in order to prioritize family matters and will continue in an advisory capacity until April 30, 2026.

Anita Zielinski was named Baxter’s interim CFO, effective immediately. The company is beginning its search to fill the permanent role.

Zielinski joined Baxter in 2025 as senior VP, chief accounting officer, and controller. She will continue with these responsibilities in addition to serving in the interim CFO role. She joined Baxter from Sysco Corporation, where she was most recently senior VP and CFO of U.S. Foodservice Operations, the company’s largest business segment.

Before Sysco, Zielinski, spent over two decades at Ernst & Young, including as an audit partner.

“Joel has supported Baxter through a period of significant transformation, and we greatly appreciate his contributions and partnership,” said Andrew Hider, Baxter’s president and CEO. “Baxter remains well positioned for value creation and continues to prioritize stabilizing the business, strengthening our balance sheet, and driving a culture of continuous improvement. I am confident that Anita and the Finance team will provide strong leadership to ensure this continuity during the transition.”

Hider took office as the company’s CEO on August 19, 2025. He was previously CEO of ATS Corporation, taking on that role in 2017.