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Stamford, Conn. – July 15, 2024 – Americares, the health-focused relief and development organization, is pleased to announce the election of Vladimir Makatsaria to its Board of Directors. Makatsaria, whose three-year term began July 1, brings to the board nearly 30 years of experience in the global pharmaceutical and medical device industry.
“We are thrilled to welcome Vladimir to our Board of Directors,” said Americares President and CEO Christine Squires. “He has a proven track record of delivering results and driving innovation and we are confident that he will provide valuable perspective as we continue to bolster our Medicine Security Program to ensure more families in need have access to the most essential medications.”
The Americares Board of Directors oversees all aspects of the organization’s life-changing health programs, including its disaster response work and support for 4,000 under-resourced health centers worldwide.
Makatsaria currently serves as chief executive officer and board member of LivaNova, a global medical device company that makes neurological and cardiac health products for patients around the world.
Prior to LivaNova, he worked at Johnson & Johnson for nearly three decades in numerous executive leadership roles. Notably, Makatsaria served as company group chairman at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, where he led Ethicon, a global leader in the surgical technologies market. During his tenure at Johnson & Johnson, he also held executive leadership roles for Johnson & Johnson China, Johnson & Johnson MedTech Asia-Pacific, Ethicon’s Europe, Middle East and Africa division, among others. He also served on Ethicon, DePuy and MedTech’s global leadership teams.
“For nearly five decades, Americares has been working to save lives and improve health for people around the world. I am honored to join the Americares board and look forward to helping advance its mission,” said Makatsaria.
A leader in the humanitarian sector, Americares is No. 9 on Forbes 2023 list of Top 100 Charities and a four-star rated charity—the highest possible—by Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. Americares helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters; increase accessibility, availability, affordability and acceptability of medicine and medical supplies; improve and expand health services; and prevent disease and promote good health.
Makatsaria currently serves on the board of the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), the world’s largest medical technology association representing more than 500 companies worldwide. Previously, he served as chairman of the board of the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed) and as an Advisory Board member to Singapore Management University.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in physiology, a master’s degree in health care administration and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota.
Makatsaria lives in New York City with his wife, Patricia, and their three children.