On August 3, 2026, Danaher announced that Rainer M. Blair will retire as President and Chief Executive Officer effective October 1, 2026, when Julie Sawyer Montgomery succeeds him; on that date he will also step down from the Board of Directors and its Executive, Finance and Science & Technology Committees. To support a seamless transition, Mr. Blair will serve as a Senior Advisor through December 31, 2026 and then as a consultant until March 31, 2027.
Rainer M. Blair has served as Danaher's President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2020. Since joining Danaher in 2010, Mr. Blair has served in a series of progressively more responsible general management positions, and has been a Danaher officer since 2014.
Mr. Blair brings broad operating and functional experience across diverse end-markets and geographies, in-depth knowledge of Danaher's businesses and of the Danaher Business System, and leadership experience from his service in the U.S. Army. He adds deep multi-cultural experience having lived and worked on three continents.
Ceases as President & CEO and resigns from the Board and its Executive, Finance and Science & Technology Committees effective Oct 1, 2026. Transitions to Senior Advisor (non-officer employee) through Dec 31, 2026 and then a consultant through Mar 31, 2027 to support the leadership transition.