Pacur Names John Carlson as CEO

Pacur LLC, a supplier of specialty plastic packaging materials for the medical device industry, has appointed John Carlson as CEO. Carlson, a 30-year veteran of the healthcare and medical device industry, succeeds Barry Johnson, who is retiring after leading the company for the past decade. Pacur is a portfolio company of middle market private equity firm Gryphon Investors.

“It is difficult to step down from my day-to-day work as CEO of Pacur,” Johnson said. “I have had the priviledge to lead a team of people who have grown Pacur into a supplier to the medical device industry. But the time is right for me to focus on my future. I’m very confident that John is the right leader to guide Pacur through our next phase of growth, and I look forward to working with him through the transition and as a partner on the board. I’m very bullish about our company.”
 
Carlson is an accomplished executive with a track record of driving innovation and growing businesses in the healthcare and medical device industry. Prior to joining Pacur, he served as president of Flex Health Solutions, a $2.5 billion business focused on design, engineering services, and contract manufacturing for the medical technology market. Before that, he held a variety of technology and innovation roles at Johnson & Johnson, both at the parent company and at its Ethicon Endo-Surgery division.

“I am very pleased to partner with John as Pacur moves forward. His laser focus on customers, service, and quality, as well as his innovative mindset, gives me great confidence in his leadership and vision for the company,” said Craig Nikrant, Pacur board chairman and Gryphon operating partner. “

Wes Lucas and Leigh Abramson, partners and co-heads of the Industrial Growth Group at Gryphon Investors, added, “We cannot thank Barry enough for his invaluable leadership and significant contributions that helped make Pacur the market leader it is today. All of us at Gryphon wish him the best in his retirement and look forward to his continued involvement on the board.”

Carlson earned a bachelor of science degree in bioengineering and a master’s of science degree in mechanical engineering, both from the University of California, San Diego.
 
Under Johnson’s leadership, Pacur has established itself as a brand with a reputation for quality, excellent customer service, reliability, and strong financial performance. Johnson will continue to remain active in the business as a board member.
  
“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Pacur team to help expand upon the great foundation they have built. I look forward to working with Barry on the transition as we augment Pacur’s already strong technology, introduce new advanced products, and broaden the company’s capacity to serve its customers,” Carlson said.
 
Founded in 1979 and based in Oshkosh, Wis., Pacur supplies extruded PETG sheet used principally to provide rigid, high-performance packaging for medical devices.