Owens & Minor Taps New COO to Lead High-Stakes Operations Overhaul

RICHMOND, Va. – May 13, 2026 – In a decisive move signaling a new operational era, global healthcare solutions company Owens & Minor has appointed Marc Rottink as its Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. The appointment comes as the 140-year-old company, now operating as a private entity under the portfolio of Platinum Equity, doubles down on its strategy to modernize its vast supply chain through significant investments in automation and technology.

Rottink, a seasoned executive with nearly three decades of experience, is tasked with steering this transformation. His appointment is a clear indicator of the strategic direction being forged under private ownership, emphasizing operational supremacy in an increasingly complex and competitive healthcare landscape.

"In logistics, operational excellence is important, but in healthcare logistics, it's critical," said Christian Cook, chairman and interim CEO of Owens & Minor, who is also a managing director at Platinum Equity. "We're making significant investments in our operations through automation and we're confident that Marc's impressive history of successfully leading global operational transformation will be a pivotal asset as Owens & Minor continues to improve the customer experience."

A Proven Transformer for a Critical Mission

Marc Rottink arrives at Owens & Minor with a formidable reputation for revitalizing complex global supply chains. His career is marked by high-impact leadership roles at major healthcare firms, including Medtronic and, most recently, Smith + Nephew, where he served as Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Customer Care.

At Smith + Nephew, Rottink was credited with driving substantial improvements in manufacturing operations and enhancing customer fulfillment levels through the sophisticated implementation of sales, inventory, and operational planning (SIOP). His expertise lies in orchestrating large-scale strategic transformations, managing global inventory, and integrating advanced systems to create more agile and responsive operations. This track record aligns precisely with the challenges and opportunities facing Owens & Minor today.

The new COO expressed his readiness to take on the role, highlighting a long-held dedication to operational innovation.

"Throughout my career, I've had great passion for developing and implementing large-scale strategies that help supply chains and product manufacturing operate more efficiently and more responsively," Rottink stated. "I'm more than thrilled to join Owens & Minor and excited for the opportunity to innovate and improve the backbone of our strength—our 140+ years of operational expertise—and take it to the next level."

The Platinum Equity Playbook in Action

Rottink’s appointment is a cornerstone of the value-creation strategy deployed by Platinum Equity, which took Owens & Minor private in a transaction completed in 2022. The shift away from the quarterly pressures of public markets has enabled the company to embark on a more aggressive, long-term investment cycle focused on foundational improvements. Platinum Equity's playbook typically involves acquiring established companies and injecting capital and operational expertise to unlock growth and efficiency.

For Owens & Minor, this strategy is multifaceted. It involves not only optimizing its core medical distribution network but also leveraging the scale of its vertically integrated businesses, including the Patient Direct segment and the Halyard line of clinical products. By bringing in a leader of Rottink's caliber, Platinum Equity is installing an operator capable of executing this complex vision, tightening integration, and maximizing the return on its significant technological investments.

This approach also includes a disciplined focus on strengthening the balance sheet. By prioritizing debt reduction, Owens & Minor is creating greater financial flexibility to fund its ambitious modernization efforts and pursue strategic growth without being overleveraged, positioning it for sustained competitiveness.

Accelerating a High-Tech Transformation

While Rottink’s arrival marks a new chapter, he is not starting from a standstill. Owens & Minor has already laid significant groundwork for its technological evolution. The company is in the process of launching a new generation of state-of-the-art distribution centers designed to set new industry benchmarks for efficiency and accuracy.

A new facility in West Virginia, set to be operational in 2025, will feature advanced robotics and automation capable of improving capacity efficiency by 30% over traditional warehouses. Another center in South Dakota will integrate an augmented reality (AR) system to guide and streamline the order-picking process. These initiatives are complemented by the deployment of AI-based warehouse optimization software, such as the Jennifer™ system from Lucas Systems, and voice-directed picking technology, which has already boosted productivity by over 10% in existing facilities.

Rottink’s mandate will be to oversee, scale, and harmonize these initiatives across the company’s entire network. His expertise in systems implementation and cross-functional alignment will be crucial in ensuring that these individual technology projects coalesce into a cohesive, intelligent, and highly efficient national supply chain engine.

Competing in a New Era of Healthcare Logistics

The strategic overhaul at Owens & Minor is taking place against the backdrop of a healthcare industry still grappling with the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis exposed the vulnerabilities of lean, "just-in-time" supply chains, accelerating a sector-wide push toward greater resilience, visibility, and digitalization. Cost pressures from inflation and reimbursement headwinds further intensify the need for operational excellence.

The competitive field is fierce, with rivals like Cardinal Health and McKesson also investing heavily in next-generation logistics. Cardinal Health is pursuing a "cognitive supply chain" built on AI and real-time data, while McKesson continues to roll out its "DC of the Future" model, leveraging extensive automation. In this environment, standing still is not an option.

By appointing Marc Rottink, Owens & Minor is making a clear statement about its intent not just to compete, but to lead. His leadership is poised to be the catalyst that combines the company's historic legacy, its new technological assets, and the strategic backing of Platinum Equity into a formidable force capable of navigating the future of healthcare delivery.