Conor Russell, speaks to us about his current role as VP of Operations for Boston Scientific, Ireland. And why Boston Scientific is sponsoring the Grit program as a core partner.
Please tell us about your current role within Boston Scientific.
I’m Conor Russell, VP Operations for Boston Scientific in Clonmel, Ireland.
Boston Scientific is a global leader in the medical device industry and provides life-changing solutions to millions of patients round the world. In 2021, we impacted the lives of over 30M patients with our products and solutions. Our focus is on category leadership in a number of key therapy areas, including Cardiac Rhythm Management, Electrophysiology, Urology and Pelvic Health, Neuromodulation and Structural Heart. Together, we employ over 40,000 employees worldwide and in Ireland we employ over 6,000 people primarily in manufacturing, supply chain and product development.
I have been with Boston Scientific for over 20 years and over that time I have worked in manufacturing across many different sites both in the US and in Ireland. The site that I currently lead, employs 1200 people, is responsible for our active implantable portfolio of products and has developed strong capabilities in manufacturing, supply chain and product development.
Our global mission is to advance patient care and our goal is to deliver the highest quality products to our patients. It is so rewarding to be part of a team that has such an impact on patients’ lives. Over the years I have met many patients and heard many patient stories where our solutions have helped to transform their lives. It is incredibly humbling and yet, at the same time inspiring when you meet a patient and hear their story. I find that it really does motivate you to continue to push for high performance and excellence in everything that you do.
On a personal note, I am married to my wife Sinead for 20 years and have 4 children. As you can imagine it is a busy house at home, but when I find a free hour or two, I like to escape to the mountains and go mountain biking or road biking.
Why did Boston Scientific become a core partner with Grit?
We are so thrilled to be a core partner on this exciting GRIT accelerator program. At Boston Scientific, we are very proud of our culture of innovation and over the years we have pioneered and commercialised many new breakthrough solutions to patients around the world. We re-invest about $1bn a year on our internal R&D programs and we augment that by acquiring companies that have compelling new technologies that complement and strengthen our portfolio. To achieve our mission which is to advance patient care, it really is essential to have a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and this program will provide founders with the necessary skills and confidence to grow their businesses and bring their ideas to life.
How important is it for Boston Scientific to support female start-ups working in digital health and life science?
Our company is built on a foundation of strong core values, and we want to eliminate inequities in our workplace, in our communities and in our healthcare system. We know that diverse insights lead to new ideas and better answers. By providing support and guidance to aspiring female entrepreneurs, this program will help to close the gap that exists within the med-tech industry for female led entrepreneurs.
But it also focuses on the exciting area of digital health which is radically transforming how we deliver healthcare and I know that companies like Boston are always looking at new ideas in digital health to help increase patient access, improve patient outcomes, and of course empower patients to take more ownership of their own health.
Social media details:
Linkedin Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conor-russell-8a605117
You can follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook to keep up-to-date with everything
