Invacare Corp. Names President/CEO

• By Laurie Watanabe
• Nov 30, 2022

Invacare Corp. has officially appointed its President/CEO… and it’s a familiar name.

In a Nov. 21 news release, the manufacturer said Geoffrey P. Purtill, who has served as interim President/CEO since late August, will now permanently hold those titles.

In the announcement, Michael J. Merriman, Invacare’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, said, “On behalf of the Board, we are excited to elevate Geoff Purtill into the role of President and CEO. The Board determined that Geoff is the right steward of the company as it undergoes significant transformation and embarks on a new chapter.

“Geoff has proven adept at guiding our global businesses through change, both in his previous role overseeing the EMEA [Europe, Middle East and Africa] and APAC [Asia Pacific] businesses, and now in his current role. Notably, Geoff and the leadership team have already acted decisively by discontinuing respiratory products and repositioning the business and resources around our core categories of Lifestyle and Mobility & Seating, which are anticipated to drive profitable growth. The Board looks forward to partnering with Geoff as we continue to take decisive action to improve our financial performance and enhance shareholder value.”

Prior to taking over as interim President/CEO in August, Purtill served as Invacare’s Senior VP/GM, EMEA and APAC, since December 2021. He was also VP, Global Strategy and General Manager, Asia Pacific, since September 2021.

“I am honored that our board has given me the opportunity to lead Invacare and advance our mission of ‘Making Life’s Experiences Possible’ for the millions of people who rely on our products each day,” Purtill said in the announcement. “I look forward to working closely with all of our customers globally to regain their trust and confidence, especially in North America. As always, I am grateful for all the hard work our associates have put in during these extraordinary times. While we have had our share of challenges, I see great potential in the company and continue to drive and accelerate our transformation plans to strengthen Invacare for the long term. I look forward to working with our Board, who continue to provide guidance as we advance through our transformation.”

Purtill took over on an interim basis when Matthew E. Monaghan, Invacare’s Chairman/President/CEO, stepped down on Aug. 28, 2022. At that time the manufacturer cited “Invacare’s business transformation” as the reason for the leadership change.

In November, Purtill announced Invacare would focus on mobility going forward, saying in a Nov. 7 press release, “After carefully evaluating our strategic options, we have determined that the lifestyle and mobility and seating categories are core to improving Invacare's growth and profitability. As a result, we are discontinuing the production of respiratory products.”