Stanley M. Bergman to retire as Henry Schein CEO

Bergman joined Henry Schein in 1980 as the company’s first chief financial officer. After the death of then CEO Jay Schein in 1989, Bergman assumed leadership and guided the company through its transformation into a publicly traded enterprise, culminating in a 1995 initial public offering.

In a company press release, Bergman stated that recent strategic and managerial advances have made the end of this year “the right time for me to retire”. He said: “I look forward to working with the board to identify my successor and effect a smooth transition. Henry Schein has been my professional home for 45 years, and I will conclude this chapter of my life with enormous gratitude for the opportunity to serve as CEO and with great confidence in the company’s future.”

Philip A. Laskawy, lead director at the company, added: “Under Stan’s leadership, Henry Schein has become the global leader in providing dental and medical products and solutions for healthcare providers in alternate care settings, and we recognise the significant impact he has had on the company and the entire healthcare industry. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Stan for his steadfast devotion to Henry Schein and for bringing his unique blend of strategic vision, attention to detail and entrepreneurship to the company.”

The company’s announcement followed a personal letter sent by Bergman to Henry Schein employees on the morning of 15 July. In the letter, he listed some of his greatest successes, including transforming the company from a US-based dental mail order company into a global dental distributor and advancing public–private partnerships to foster greater access to oral care. Company revenue during Bergman’s tenure increased from US$225.0 million in 1989 to nearly US$13.0 billion (€12.5 billion^*) in 2024, representing a compound annual growth rate of approximately 17.5%.

Henry Schein stoked succession rumours earlier this year when it agreed to a deal of purchase and collaboration with KKR. The private equity firm acquired US$250 million worth of the company’s common stock and was able to appoint its representatives William Daniel and Max Lin to the Henry Schein board of directors. Lin was named vice chair of the company’s nominating and governance committee, which is tasked with overseeing CEO succession.

Bergman commented in the press release: “As part of succession planning, the company has focused on developing the next generation of leaders and earlier this year simplified the business by separating into three operating divisions, each with outstanding leadership. I fully expect that Andrea Albertini, CEO of the Global Distribution Group—who also has responsibility for the Global Technology Group—and Tom Popeck, CEO of the Healthcare Specialties Group, together with the rest of the company’s executive management committee, will elevate Henry Schein to new heights.”

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