LivaNova Appoints Stefano Folli as New President of Cardiopulmonary
LivaNova (LIVN) announced that Stefano Folli will join the Company as incoming President, Cardiopulmonary effective June 1, succeeding Franco Poletti, who will retire on July 31. Folli will partner closely with Poletti over the coming months to ensure a seamless leadership transition before assuming full responsibility for the business on August 1. Folli will join the LivaNova Executive Leadership Team and report to CEO Vladimir Makatsaria. In this role, Folli will oversee the strategic growth of the nearly $800-million business, which includes a complete range of Cardiopulmonary disposables and equipment, including the Essenz Perfusion System. Most recently, Folli served as Executive Vice President, Global President Ambulatory Monitoring & Diagnostics at Philips (PHG).
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- Significant Response Rate Increase: LivaNova's PolySync™ programming algorithm has raised the cumulative response rate to 84.5% in patients with moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a notable improvement from the previous 65% response rate, reinforcing the company's leadership in medical technology.
- Personalized Treatment Innovation: By reprogramming patients who did not meet responder criteria, PolySync significantly improved both the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) and Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI), not only enhancing patient response rates but also opening new avenues for personalized neuromodulation therapy, thereby increasing market competitiveness.
- Clinical Foundation Continuity: The findings from PolySync build upon LivaNova's OSPREY and THN3 randomized controlled trials, which achieved primary safety and efficacy endpoints at six months, demonstrating sustained clinical benefits and further validating the effectiveness and reliability of the company's technology.
- Future Development Potential: LivaNova plans to submit a PMA supplement application for its next-generation OSA device to the FDA in the second half of 2026, which will be MRI-compatible and feature remote configuration management capabilities, showcasing the company's ongoing commitment to innovation and market expansion.
- New Board Member: LivaNova PLC announced the election of Jette Nygaard-Andersen to its Board of Directors during the Annual General Meeting on June 10, bringing extensive governance expertise and leadership skills that are expected to enhance the company's strategic development and innovation.
- Rich Leadership Experience: Nygaard-Andersen has over 25 years of leadership experience in international businesses, having served as Chair of Coloplast A/S and led significant growth transformations at Entain plc, showcasing her strategic value in complex global operations.
- Board Changes: Concurrent with Nygaard-Andersen's appointment, Sharon O'Kane decided not to seek re-election, concluding over a decade of service on LivaNova's board, which introduces new dynamics to the governance structure and may influence future decision-making.
- Governance Structure Optimization: Brooke Story will succeed O'Kane as Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, with new committee members working alongside Nygaard-Andersen to enhance board diversity and expertise, supporting the company's ongoing growth.
- Executive Appointment: LivaNova PLC announced the appointment of Anne Liddy as Chief Legal Officer, effective August 31, overseeing the company's global legal and compliance functions while joining the Executive Leadership Team, highlighting the company's commitment to legal compliance.
- Extensive Experience: Liddy brings over two decades of legal expertise, having served as General Counsel at Hologic where she led a global legal organization and advised senior leadership and the Board on critical business and compliance matters, which is expected to enhance LivaNova's strategic leadership.
- Strategic Impact: Liddy expressed her intention to collaborate with the leadership team to support the company's strategic priorities and advance its global compliance framework, aiming to improve patient lives through innovation and create long-term value for customers and shareholders.
- Educational Background: Liddy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a Juris Doctor from Cornell University Law School, and her educational and professional background will provide robust support for LivaNova's legal affairs.
- Leadership Transition: LivaNova PLC announced that Stefano Folli will succeed Franco Poletti as President of Cardiopulmonary effective June 1, ensuring a smooth leadership transition that is expected to enhance the company's strategic execution in the cardiopulmonary medical technology sector.
- Business Scale: Folli will oversee a nearly $800 million cardiopulmonary business, including the Essenz™ Perfusion System, and is anticipated to drive growth and innovation through his extensive industry experience.
- Experience Background: Folli's previous role as Global President of Ambulatory Monitoring & Diagnostics at Philips involved successful integration of acquisitions and strengthening market leadership, showcasing his deep expertise and leadership capabilities that will bring new perspectives and strategies to LivaNova.
- Strategic Vision: Folli expressed his commitment to collaborating with the global team to enhance execution and innovation, aiming to improve outcomes for patients and clinicians, which underscores LivaNova's long-term dedication to the medical technology field.








