Orchid’s new CEO Nate Folkert
Orchid Orthopedic Solutions (Holt, Mich.) announced this week that ConMed and Zimmer veteran Nate Folkert has taken over the corner office at the orthopedic medical device industry supplier.
Folkert succeeded Jerry Jurkiewicz, effective yesterday. Jurkiewicz will consider supporting the company through a transition period.
Folkert has 20 years of medical device industry experience, most recently serving as VP and GM of ConMed’s Orthopedics business. Prior to ConMed, he was president of Zimmer’s Trauma Division, preceded by several other executive roles at Zimmer and Stryker.
Before medtech, Folkert few helicopters in the U.S Army. He’s a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
“Nate joins with a proven track record of growth acceleration and a close understanding of the orthopedic end market. The board is impressed by Nate’s understanding of how to create value for Orchid’s customers,” Orchid board chair Gary Fischetti said in a news release.
The leadership transition is taking place as the orthopedic outsourcing space continues to evolve, with major device companies handing off the entire manufacturing, sourcing and logistics of certain products to their suppliers. Orchid has been positioning itself to be on the vanguard of this trend.
Orchid has emerged as a leading supplier in this fragmented market, and I look forward to continuing to build on the significant progress made to date on building the company into a global operationally excellent manufacturing platform. Orchid has a long runway ahead as it focuses on partnering with customers to help them win in the market,” Folkert said.
Nordic Capital acquired a majority stake in Orchid nearly two years ago.
