Name: Vitor Roque
New title: CFO, BD
Previous title: Interim CFO, BD
BD named Vitor Roque as chief financial officer Thursday, ending the medtech company’s seven-month search for a permanent replacement for Chris DelOrefice.
In October, DelOrefice told BD that he planned to leave the company in December to take the CFO job at Ulta Beauty. BD began searching for a permanent successor and named Roque, its senior vice president of finance, business units and corporate financial planning and analysis, as interim CFO.
BD “ran a comprehensive process that evaluated a broad range of external candidates,” CEO Thomas Polen said on the company’s second-quarter earnings call Thursday. The company was looking for a CFO who had proven they can “lead sophisticated finance organizations in complex operating environments,” had a deep understanding of BD’s markets and model, and possessed a strong track record, Polen said.
Roque has worked at BD for more than 25 years. During Roque’s time as interim CFO, BD “delivered two solid quarters of performance,” Polen said. The company also closed its planned combination of its biosciences and diagnostic solutions business with Waters in February, ahead of schedule. As the CFO search progressed, “it became clear that our best talent was already within the organization,” said Polen.
The CFO outlined his priorities on the earnings call, telling analysts that he wanted BD to be disciplined with its capital allocation, protect the balance sheet, maximize returns to shareholders and invest in selected growth drivers. The strategy is about continuity, not changing drastically, Roque said, adding that the focus is on “sharpening the execution and not changing direction.”
Roque was speaking after BD reported 5.2% sales growth in the second quarter. At $4.7 billion, sales beat analyst expectations for the second quarter in a row.
The company raised its full-year earnings guidance in response to its results. Alaris infusion pumps, vaccines and China slowed growth again. Polen reaffirmed that BD expects pressures from Alaris to intensify next year before clearing in 2028. The company has introduced an updated Alaris pump after recalling and discontinuing an older version of the device.
