On July 7, 2025, Baxter International (NYSE: BAX), a leading medtech company headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, announced that Andrew Hider, currently CEO of ATS Corporation, will assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer. His appointment will take effect no later than September 3, 2025, pending the completion of his duties at ATS.
Hider brings over two decades of leadership experience across the industrial and life sciences sectors. Since taking the helm of ATS in 2017, he has led the Canadian automation and manufacturing systems firm through a period of significant growth. Under his leadership, ATS nearly doubled its adjusted revenues and achieved a sustained low- to mid-teens compound annual growth rate in EBITDA. The company’s stock more than tripled in value on the Toronto Stock Exchange, a testament to Hider’s operational acumen and strategic execution.
Brent Shafer, Baxter’s interim CEO and current board chair, will transition to independent chair following Hider’s official start, ensuring leadership continuity. In a statement, Hider expressed his enthusiasm for joining Baxter, citing admiration for its mission-driven culture and longstanding role in delivering medically essential products. He emphasized a commitment to fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth across Baxter’s evolving global platform.
Hider’s appointment represents a clear signal of Baxter’s strategic pivot toward automation-led transformation. At ATS, he spearheaded portfolio optimization initiatives, improved operating margins, and led multiple tuck-in acquisitions—including those of Avidity Science and Paxiom—that expanded the company’s capabilities across advanced automation sectors. His track record underscores a focus on both operational efficiency and inorganic growth through targeted M&A.
Prior to ATS, Hider held senior roles at Taylor Made Group and Danaher Corporation, and spent six years at General Electric, where he developed deep expertise in industrial systems, engineering management, and scalable innovation. His leadership style is noted for its emphasis on continuous improvement and high-performance team development, qualities that align with Baxter’s renewed focus on streamlining its portfolio and optimizing productivity.
Hider steps in at a pivotal moment for Baxter. Over the past year, the company has undergone a significant restructuring, including the divestiture of its Vantive kidney-care business and its biopharma solutions division, both of which were offloaded to private equity groups. These moves mark a broader strategic effort to refocus the company on core healthcare delivery technologies and expand its innovation pipeline.
CFO Joel Grade has articulated a vision for accelerating annual revenue growth to 4–5% through a mix of organic R&D initiatives and selective acquisitions. Hider’s expertise in automation and systems integration positions him well to execute on this plan. The board and executive team view his appointment as essential to modernizing Baxter’s operational footprint and boosting its competitiveness in a rapidly evolving medtech landscape.
Market reaction to the leadership transition was cautious. Baxter shares fell more than 4% following the announcement, while ATS stock dropped approximately 8.3%, reflecting investor uncertainty during the transitional phase. Despite the immediate dip, analysts view the move as a calculated bet on long-term value creation through operational modernization.
With his official start date approaching, all eyes will be on Hider’s next steps—particularly how he integrates advanced automation technologies across Baxter’s global operations and capitalizes on opportunities in the high-growth medtech sector. His leadership is expected to be a critical factor in shaping Baxter’s next phase of transformation and long-term performance.
