Philips Appoints Medical Device Expert to Supervisory Board
Royal Philips has announced the proposed appointment of John DeFord as a new member of the supervisory board, along with the reappointment of three outgoing directors. These changes will be submitted to the general shareholders' meeting scheduled for May 8, 2026.
Introduction of New Board Member
John DeFord, an American citizen born in 1962, is proposed for appointment as a new member of Philips' supervisory board. His nomination is based on his extensive experience in the medical device industry as a global technology leader and his deep expertise in regulatory affairs and quality systems, particularly in the United States. Mr. DeFord currently serves as the president and CEO of Samothrace Medical Innovations since 2021. Prior to 2021, he was the Chief Technology Officer at Becton Dickinson, having previously held senior leadership positions at C.R. Bard. He also holds non-executive director positions at Nordson Corporation, Globus Medical, Inc., Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., and Enable Injections Inc.
Reappointment of Existing Board Members
The supervisory board also proposes the reappointment of Paul Stoffels (Belgian, born 1962), Herna Verhagen (Dutch, born 1966), and Sanjay Poonen (American, born 1969) as members of the supervisory board. Marc Harrison (American, born 1964), whose second term expires at the end of the 2026 general meeting, will leave the supervisory board. Mr. Harrison joined the board in 2018 and served two consecutive terms. Additionally, Roy Jakobs (Dutch/German, born 1974) is proposed to be reappointed as chairman and CEO, and chairman of the board of directors and member of the management board, as previously announced on February 10, 2026.
