April 28, 2021 – BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (Franklin Lakes, NJ) announced the appointment of Elizabeth McCombs as EVP and chief technology officer, effective April 26, 2021, succeeding John DeFord.
In this role, McCombs will be responsible for continuing to drive the company’s category innovation strategy and leading all research and development (R&D) activities, including executing the current innovation pipeline and developing the future product portfolio.
McCombs, who brings more than 20 years of extensive experience in advanced medical device innovation to her new role, joined BD in 2019 as the SVP of R&D for the BD Medical Segment.
McCombs succeeds John DeFord, who will join BD’s newly formed external Scientific Advisory Board.
BD also announced the creation of an external Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), which it says will be comprised of top medical key opinion leaders, science and technology experts and experienced innovation leaders. The SAB will meet to review BD’s technology capabilities, innovation pipeline, tuck-in M&A opportunities and early-stage investments.
The SAB will also advise BD’s leadership on its growth prioritization as well as emerging trends in healthcare, science and technology, and the potential implications for BD.
John DeFord, following his retirement from BD on May 28, 2021, will be a founding member and co-chair of the SAB.