Steve Blazejewski Named CEO at Aspen Surgical

Aspen Surgical Products Inc., a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity, has appointed Steve Blazejewski as CEO. Blazejewski succeeds Jason Krieser, who is retiring from the role and will continue as a board member.
 
After completing its corporate carve-out under Krieser’s leadership in 2019, Aspen completed six acquisitions and grew revenue three-fold, expanding its sales coverage and broadening its product offerings to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and other healthcare facilities, becoming a provider of surgical consumables to acute care settings. Blazejewski will lead the strategic direction of the global company as it enters a new phase of growth.

“I am excited to lead Aspen into this new transformative phase as we bring our latest and largest acquisition, Symmetry Surgical, into our business and portfolio,” Blazejewski stated. “Aspen has a proud history and a strong foundation for growth, and we expect to bring even more value to our global customers with a broad, clinically relevant portfolio.”
 
Blazejewski has nearly 30 years of medical device industry experience leading large, complex global teams and over a decade of work with products and solutions focused on enhancing surgical and operating-room outcomes. He has spent the last year as an independent board member for Aspen Surgical, and previously served as CEO for Katena Products and held global president roles at Cardinal Health, Medtronic, and Covidien, building a track record for commercial excellence and organic growth.
 
Krieser will remain on Aspen’s Board of Directors and continue to advise Audax Private Equity, which originally invested in Aspen in 2019 and made an additional investment in 2022 through a continuation fund to support the company’s ongoing organic growth and M&A activities.
 
“We are grateful for Jason’s leadership over the past three years, during which time he stewarded the company through COVID-19 and a period of extraordinary growth, built an exceptional management team, and positioned Aspen for sustained future success,” Audax Senior Managing Director David Wong said. “Steve brings the right vision and proven experience to help Aspen continue its momentum and accelerate into new markets.”
 
As a manufacturer of surgical essentials and infection control products, Aspen Surgical has helped drive efficiency and safety in the operating room and beyond since 1999. The company’s portfolio includes Bard-Parker blades and scalpels, Precept personal protective equipment, Protek probe covers and needle guides, Stork labor and delivery products, surgical marking pens, orthopedic positioners, basic wound care, and instrument care products.
 
In 2022, Aspen acquired Symmetry Surgical to offer an expanded portfolio of trusted products essential to surgery, including surgical and specialty instrumentation, electrosurgery products, and minimally invasive surgical devices sold under iconic brands such as Bovie®, Bookwalter®, and Greenberg.
 
Aspen facilities in Caledonia, Mich.; Las Piedras, Puerto Rico; and Agua Prieta, Mexico; offer vertically integrated, North American manufacturing capabilities including injection molding, sewing, ultrasonic welding, die cutting, automated assembly, and packaging as well as blade stamping, grinding, and finishing.
 
Audax Private Equity is an alternative investment manager with offices in Boston, New York, San Francisco, and London. Audax Private Equity has invested more than $9 billion in over 150 platforms and more than 1,100 add-on companies and is currently investing in add-ons out of its $3.5 billion, sixth private equity fund. Through its disciplined Buy & Build approach, Audax seeks to help platform companies execute add-on acquisitions that fuel revenue growth, optimize operations, and significantly increase equity value.