In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, CEOs play a pivotal role in steering their companies through digital transformation. It’s not merely about implementing new technologies—it’s about rethinking business models and fostering a culture that embraces innovation. By setting the tone, providing resources, and leading by example, the best CEOs recognize that transformation requires both structural and cultural change.

Meet Matt Trerotola, the Chief Executive Officer of EnovisTM. His early career was shaped by his work at DuPont under Ellen Kullman, where he learned the importance of nurturing growth initiatives, ensuring that support reaches innovation teams. His time at Danaher deepened his understanding of leadership, where he embraced coaching and mentoring over prescriptive management. These experiences paved the way for his success at Colfax, where he led a transformation that culminated in the creation of two thriving public companies.

Inspired by Legacy

Matt’s journey into leadership was deeply influenced by his father, a successful business executive at DuPont, who taught him the value of personal relationships in business. Watching his father’s dedication to his customers, Matt knew he wanted to follow a similar path. After earning a degree in chemical engineering, Matt began his career at DuPont as a sales representative, helping customers succeed, just as his father had.

As Matt’s passion for leadership grew, he pursued an MBA, which opened doors to new experiences in business strategy, innovation, acquisitions, operational improvement, and talent development. These skills paved the way for his later leadership roles. His time at Danaher was especially formative, where he learned the importance of culture, discipline, and a strategic approach to business improvement.

In 2015, Matt became the CEO of Colfax, where he led the company’s transformation into Enovis, a medical technology innovator. His journey, shaped by his father’s example and his professional experiences, forged his unique approach to leadership and business transformation.

Transforming Enovis into a Global MedTech Powerhouse

As the Chief Executive Officer of Enovis, Matt has been at the forefront of a transformative journey, guiding the company’s evolution from a diversified technology company into a global medtech leader. This transformation has been the pinnacle of his career, marked by significant milestones that reflect his vision and leadership in the medical technology space.

One of the most notable moments came on April 5, 2022, when Colfax successfully spun out its welding business, ESAB, as a public company, and rebranded to Enovis. This pivotal moment, which Matt likens to a $1 billion IPO, was celebrated by ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The company’s new direction was energized by a strong vision centered on improving patient outcomes through innovation, embodied in their motto, “Creating Better Together” in the MedTech field.

Nearly two years later, on January 3, 2024, Enovis achieved another significant milestone with the acquisition of Lima, a transformational move that elevated the Italian medical device company LimaCorporate to a $2 billion+ global leader in orthopedics. This acquisition opened up tremendous opportunities for further growth and leadership in the medtech sector, particularly in the area of orthopedic solutions.

Under Matt’s leadership, Enovis continues to forge new paths in medical technology, striving to make significant impacts on patient care and outcomes. His guidance during these critical years has positioned the company as a powerhouse in the MedTech industry, with a clear focus on innovation and collaboration.

Global Perspective in Leadership

Matt’s extensive global experience has been a key factor in shaping his leadership approach, particularly in his current role at Enovis. Having lived in Switzerland as a child, worked across Europe with McKinsey, and led global businesses for over 20 years, he understands the importance of seeing the world through an international lens. His focus on globalizing Enovis is evident in the company’s growing international presence, with MedTech revenues outside the U.S. increasing from 25% in 2019 to nearly 50% today.

For Matt, one of the biggest challenges in running a global business is recognizing and overcoming the natural tendency to view things through one’s own national or cultural perspective. As a global leader, he emphasizes the importance of building diverse teams and implementing an organizational model that fosters balanced global prioritization discussions. He notes that product planning cannot be purely driven by facts and numbers, as this can lead to underfunding critical projects in smaller markets. Instead, Matt advocates for a process that encourages strategic discussions—what he refers to as applying “heat, light, and water”—to ensure that product plans not only address short-term financial goals but also support long-term strategies, such as nurturing markets with significant growth potential.

Leading Trends Shaping the Industry’s Future

Matt identifies three critical emerging trends that are shaping the future of Enovis: the shift toward ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), surgical workflow innovation, and the rise of virtual recovery paths for patients.

First, the move to ASCs is a transformative shift in surgery, particularly in orthopedics. Enovis has proactively addressed this trend by offering high-performance implants tailored for active patients, along with simplified instruments and efficient workflow solutions. These solutions are designed to reduce costs and space requirements, making them ideal for ASCs. Enovis also leverages its comprehensive capabilities to partner with ASCs, not only in the operating room but also in orthopedic clinics and rehab centers, giving the company a competitive edge in this high-growth segment.

Surgical workflow innovation is another significant trend, driven by advances in machine learning, AI, and augmented reality (AR). Enovis is at the forefront of this transformation, with innovative solutions like the ARVIS® Augmented Reality System, which provides real-time, hands-free guidance to surgeons. The company is developing a pipeline of technologies

that will integrate AI and predictive analytics into surgical planning, creating a feedback loop that captures and improves outcomes over time. These technologies have the potential to revolutionize surgical efficiency and patient outcomes.

Lastly, virtual patient recovery is rapidly emerging as a promising area. Enovis offers tools like MotionIQ in the U.S. and an app for ACL recovery in Germany, empowering patients to manage their recovery while allowing healthcare professionals to monitor progress and intervene if necessary. These solutions can significantly improve patient outcomes and optimize the economics of procedures. Enovis is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this opportunity due to its strong presence across the full continuum of orthopedic care, from surgery to rehabilitation.

Balancing Short-Term Success with Long-Term Growth

Matt emphasizes that Enovis is built on a core value of driving continuous improvement, with a management philosophy centered on “bifocal management.” This concept focuses on balancing the need for immediate, short-term results with strategies designed for long-term, extraordinary performance. Enovis prioritizes top-line growth, profitability, and cash flow, but at its core, the company’s mission is to improve patients’ lives.

As a leader, Matt ensures that his team recognizes the company’s opportunities and both challenges and supports them in realizing these goals. Under his leadership, Enovis has surpassed its strategic milestone of becoming a $2 billion company with high single-digit organic growth, and they are close to achieving a 20% EBITDA margin. The company’s path to exceeding $3 billion will involve maintaining its strong focus on growth through innovation, particularly in the Reconstruction (Recon) segment, and shaping Prevention & Recovery (P&R) for strong growth and cash flow.

Additionally, Matt sees continued opportunities for expanding Enovis into other segments of MedTech, both within and beyond orthopedics. The company’s competitive advantage lies in its commitment to innovation, partnerships with healthcare professionals, and the use of the powerful EGX (Enovis Growth Excellence) business system, which drives improvements and momentum throughout the organization.

Staying Agile in the Medical Tech Industry

Matt highlights that the rapid pace of change in the medical technology industry requires adaptability. At Enovis, Matt and his team actively collaborate with clinician partners to address the most critical challenges they face in their practices. This collaborative approach ensures that Enovis stays nimble and responsive, avoiding the bureaucratic slowdowns typical of larger corporations. By maintaining this agility, they can quickly develop and acquire technologies that enhance the efficiency of surgeons and improve patient care.

The partnerships with clinicians have allowed Enovis to identify opportunities that expand the business into new markets and align with its overall growth strategy. However, Matt is clear that growth for its own sake is not the goal. Enovis remains focused on improving patient outcomes, enhancing healthcare workflows, and continuously bettering the company

itself. This focus helps guide decisions on which technologies to develop, which businesses to acquire, and which talent to bring on board.

To ensure these priorities are met, Enovis leverages a strategic planning process and employs their EGX (Enovis Growth Excellence) tools, driving their vision from concept to reality.

Leading with Fairness and Solidarity

Matt advises aspiring leaders to be both bold and confident, but also to remain humble and curious. He emphasizes the importance of painting a compelling vision for the team, while ensuring that they understand their role in making it a reality. His leadership style is grounded in fairness and toughness, but also in solidarity—he believes that teams perform best when they know their leader is in the trenches with them, especially during challenging times.

Matt highlights the importance of fostering a culture of collaboration, trust, and continuous growth. Surrounding yourself with talented and dedicated individuals, he believes, is key to driving meaningful change and creating a lasting impact.