Danaher Corporation announced that Jonathan Leiken has been appointed Senior Vice President and General Counsel, effective August 25, 2025. Mr. Leiken will report directly to President and Chief Executive Officer Rainer Blair and will serve as an executive officer and a member of the Danaher Leadership Team.
Jonathan Leiken succeeds Brian Ellis, who will retire after nearly a decade of distinguished service as Danaher’s General Counsel. Mr. Ellis will remain at Danaher in an executive officer role through February 2026 to support the transition.
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“Jon brings nearly three decades of legal and leadership experience across multiple sectors,” said Rainer Blair. “His strategic mindset, sound judgment and collaborative approach will help strengthen our capabilities as we continue to deliver growth, innovation and results for our customers and their patients, our associates and our shareholders.”
“Brian has played a pivotal role in shaping Danaher’s transformation into a global science and technology leader,” Blair continued. “From helping lead the Fortive, Envista and Veralto transitions to the acquisitions of Cepheid and Cytiva, his impact has been profound. Beyond his legal leadership, Brian has been a passionate advocate for inclusion and a mentor to many across the organization. We are deeply grateful for his contributions and pleased that Brian and Jon will work closely together to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition.”
Prior to joining Danaher, Mr. Leiken served as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary at Dollar Tree, Inc., a Fortune 150 company, where he oversaw corporate governance, ethics and compliance, sustainability and regulatory affairs. Prior to that, he held the same role at Diebold Nixdorf, Inc., a global technology company, where he also led intellectual property, internal audit and ESG functions.
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Mr. Leiken’s career includes serving as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where he was recognized for superior performance by multiple federal agencies. He has also been a partner at a global law firm, advising Fortune 500 companies and major institutions on complex litigation, corporate strategy and regulatory matters. He holds a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, from Brandeis University.
