Michael Mahoney, the man making all the big decisions for Boston Scientific these days, got his start in a rather odd place. After completing his university education, his first job was in a sales role for General Electric Medical, where he was tasked with selling nuclear medicine cardiology systems to every little hospital in the Carolinas.
But the company was a good fit for Mahoney, who has had a lifelong passion for healthcare. Looking back, the executive credits his early interest in helping others to his grandfather, a pediatric cardiac surgeon who would occasionally have to "crack open chests." But instead of cutting people open, Mahoney found that his skills were better suited for the business world. He stayed with GE Medical for 12 years, working his way up to positions with increasing levels of responsibility, including a general manager position.
Throughout his lengthy career, he's worked with several major healthcare equipment providers, and gained firsthand experience in diverse areas such as diagnostic imaging, cardiology services, and the healthcare IT space. After GE Medical, Mahoney served as president and CEO of Global Healthcare Exchange, a leading supply chain solutions company, from 2001 to 2007 before joining Johnson & Johnson. Over the course of several years, Mahoney served as worldwide chairman of the J&J medical devices and diagnostics division and served as worldwide group chairman of J&J’s DePuy orthopedics and neuro-science business.
Mahoney found his next challenge at Boston Scientific, which he joined in 2011 as president. Far from a cake walk job, at the time the company was going through a rough patch, saddled with a ton of debt, falling profits, and wary investors. Under Mahoney’s leadership, Boston Scientific not only started to regained its stride, but it also began to develop and distribute several new medical devices, which are improving the lives of thousands of people around the world today.
Largely due to this success, Mahoney became CEO and a member of the board in 2012 and was elected chairman in 2016. Thanks to his vision, the company now boasts approximately $11.9 billion in annual revenue and commercial representation in more than 115 countries.
Not surprisingly, Mahoney is well-educated in finance and administration. He holds a bachelor's in finance from the University of Iowa and an MBA from Wake Forest University. He is also committed to giving back to the community. Mahoney serves on numerous boards, including those of Baxter International, the Boston College CEO Club, the American Heart Association, and the CEO Roundtable.