After ten years as CEO of Danish medtech group Ambu, Lars Marcher was fired last Friday.

Chairman of the board, Jens Bager, confirms the decision to MedWatch.

The reason is that Ambu needed a CEO with other competences than Marcher, he says.

"The exact reason behind Lars Marcher's exit is that we appointed a new CEO. It's the board's decision to appoint a new and very experienced person to lead Ambu on the next part of its growth journey," says Bager, adding:

"Lars' exit is a consequence of the appointment. I signed the contract this morning [Friday, ed.] and then we issued a release announcing the appointment of a new CEO. It automatically results in Lars Marcher's resignation. You cannot have two CEOs."

MedWatch: So, you can say he was fired?

"Yes," says Bager.

Visions led to firing

Although the chairman appreciates Marcher's vision of single-use endoscopes, this idea is also the main reason why the now former CEO ended ten years in Ambu with a dismissal notice.

"Lars is without doubt the godfather of the vision of developing single-use endoscopes, and this is one of the positive advances we ascribe to him," says Bager.

As part of the single-use venture, Ambu acquired German medtech company Invendo, which developed the world’s first single-use gastrointestinal platform, in November 2017.

"We are about to take a new, positive step in Ambu's history, led by a new CEO. By acquiring Invendo, we acquired a large product portfolio, which we will introduce to the world in the coming months and years. For that task, we have found a strong international profile in Juan-José Gonzalez. His job will be to take Ambu to the next level on basis of our new exciting products," says Bager.

Need for new competences

The need for new competences was the basic reason for the board's decision to change CEO.

"Juan-José Gonzalez is an engineer, he has in-depth experience with the US medtech market, and he is passionate about innovation. All this, in combination with his broad international experience, confirmed us that he is the right person to take Ambu on its next growth adventure. Because of these competences, the time was right for a change," says Bager, adding:

"During his ten years in Ambu, Lars has done an amazing job. But the board decided to appoint a new CEO and the new leader and the timing is right for our future value-creation and growth journey."

The new CEO will meet with the management and employees in Ambu this week.

However, the stock market does not exactly welcome the new CEO. When Ambu announced the change, the share price declined by 15 percent.

"I have no comments to the market's reaction. I'm convinced that the appointment of Juan-José Gonzalez is the right decision and that it will add value and development in future," says Bager.

English Edit: Ida Løjmand

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