Stryker entered 2026 with a meaningful leadership change: the company appointed Spencer Stiles as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective January 1, 2026. In the role, Stiles will lead Stryker’s global businesses, strategy, and mergers and acquisitions.
The announcement also included a key move in Orthopaedics: Dylan Crotty was promoted to Group President, Orthopaedics, succeeding Stiles.
Why leadership changes matter to sales teams
At large MedTech companies, leadership structure often foreshadows how strategy will show up in the field: portfolio investment, M&A priorities, commercial execution, and where training and resources get concentrated.
- Commercial focus: org changes can signal which business units and product lines are getting strategic emphasis.
- M&A execution: sales teams often feel the impact first through new portfolios, integrations, and expanded call points.
- Operating cadence: alignment between divisions can improve speed of execution and consistency across regions.
What to watch in early 2026
Stryker also scheduled its Q4 and full-year 2025 results webcast for January 29, 2026—an event that typically provides more color on priorities, segment momentum, and what leadership expects for the year ahead.