Orthopaedics
Bringing an ‘Olympian mindset’ to orthopaedics
In this exclusive interview, DePuy Synthes UK’s General Manager, Gavin Meadows outlines his priorities for 2024. Patient outcomes, efficiency, and supporting diverse talent are top of his agenda.
Previously an Olympic swimmer, Gavin Meadows is bringing an ‘athlete’s mindset’ to his leadership role at DePuy Synthes UK (part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech). Today, he is focused on gaining a competitive edge within the orthopaedics sector – overseeing some exciting innovation, from robotics and digital technologies to new instrumentation and advances in knee and hip replacement. Sixteen years ago, he joined Johnson & Johnson straight out of university, starting out as a sales rep for the Ethicon division, selling sutures. He moved through various management, business development and marketing roles within the UK, within the EMEA region, including Dubai and Central Eastern Europe, where he leveraged his skills in building relationships with distributors, to set up new markets. He subsequently took the opportunity to ‘come home’ to the Leeds site for DePuy Synthes UK. Now, almost one year into his new role as
General Manager, Gavin is tasked with driving forward the company’s robotics strategy and other key developments within orthopaedic surgery. The company has a rich heritage in Leeds, dating back to its inception in 1902. In fact, the Charnley hip stem was first developed in Leeds, during the 1960s, by Sir John Charnley. Today, the site continues to collaborate with Leeds university and the local teaching hospital on improving patient outcomes, through innovation
in orthopaedics. Gavin is keen to continue this pioneering legacy in the area. Born and bred in Yorkshire, he is passionate
about investing in the region. He also understands the importance of championing diverse talent, whether this is within DePuy Synthes UK as an organisation, or supporting greater diversity and inclusivity within the discipline of orthopaedics in general. “I came into J&J with no healthcare qualifications, but I worked alongside colleagues that recognised and rewarded ambition. It’s important to me that I’m authentic and Johnson & Johnson allows me to be that. I’ve always felt comfortable challenging others, and now, as a people leader, I appreciate being challenged in return. It’s one of the skills I brought with me
to this company from my time in the sporting world – accepting other people’s perspectives and being ‘coachable’. But what makes me most proud about working at Johnson & Johnson is how much we support our communities. “It’s a part of our Credo and I can see the impact we make in our local communities just by looking out of the window of our office in Leeds. Coming from a community not far from where we are based in Leeds, I feel lucky to be working for a global corporation that values its corporate social responsibility, even at a local level,” Gavin commented. Under his leadership, key focus areas for the business in 2024 will be ‘improving patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and supporting diverse talent’.
The future of orthopaedics requires a combined digital surgery approach, alongside robotic solutions, to continue to transform the way surgeries are performed. The innovation taking place in robotic assisted orthopaedic surgery is very exciting – it helps the
surgeon to bring their best to theatre every single time. Gavin Meadows, DePuy Synthes UK’s General Manager
February 2024 I
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