Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> November 3, 1997

William W. George – Medtronics Inc (mdt)

WILLIAM W. GEORGE is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medtronic, Inc., the world's leading medical technology company, based in Minneapolis. He joined Medtronic in 1989 as President and Chief Operating Officer, was elected Chief Executive Officer in 1991, and became Chairman of the Board in August, 1996. Mr. George received his BIE with high honors from Georgia Tech in 1964 and his MBA with high distinction from Harvard University in 1966. From 1966 to 1969, he served in the U.S. Department of Defense as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and as Assistant to the Comptroller of DOD. From 1969 to 1978, Mr. George worked for Litton Industries, serving as President of Litton Microwave Cooking Products from 1973 to 1978. He then joined Honeywell as corporate Vice President in charge of corporate development, R&D and strategic planning. He subsequently served as President of Honeywell Europe, Executive Vice President of Control Systems, President of Industrial Automation, and President of Space and Aviation Systems. Mr. George is a member of the board of directors of Dayton Hudson, Valspar, Imation, and Allina Health System. He is currently Chair of the Health Industry Manufacturers Association, Chair of Minnesota Thunder Pro Soccer, Vice Chair of Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and 1997 General Campaign Chair for the United Way of Minneapolis. He is past Chair of the Food and Drug Law Institute and of Abbott Northwestern Hospital, and past President of the Guthrie Theater. Profile
TWST: Give us a summary of Medtronic, and tell us, what is the company

doing today?

Mr. George: Medtronic was formed in 1949, and our founder invented the

first battery-powered, wearable