David Krahe

David Krahe leads Russell Reynolds Associates’ Global MedTech Practice and is a senior leader in the firm’s global healthcare sector. Splitting his time between Washington, D.C. and New York, David advises boards, CEOs, and senior executives globally on their most consequential leadership decisions, including CEO and C-suite succession, executive assessment, leadership team effectiveness, and board composition.

Over more than two decades as an operator and advisor, David has worked extensively with global organizations navigating leadership transition, transformation, and growth. He leads several of the firm’s largest client relationships and has advised the boards of major public companies on CEO succession and other critical leadership appointments. His work spans Fortune 500, private equity-backed, and high-growth companies across North America, Europe, and Asia.

As the leadership and talent agenda becomes increasingly central to enterprise performance, David’s work has expanded beyond individual executive appointments to broader questions of succession, leadership capability, and organizational readiness. He advises boards, CEOs, CHROs, and senior executives on how changing business models, technology, and workforce expectations are reshaping the leadership and talent capabilities organizations will need for the future. His work brings together an operator’s perspective with deep experience assessing, recruiting, and advising senior leaders across industries and geographies.

David has advised the boards of multiple large-cap MedTech companies on CEO appointment and succession and has led numerous CEO, COO, CCO, and other senior executive assignments. Beyond individual appointments, he works with clients to assess leadership teams, identify critical capability gaps, and determine whether organizations have the leadership required to deliver their future strategy.

His work also includes board director appointments, executive assessment, succession planning, and leadership benchmarking. David has conducted senior executive assessments in connection with one of the largest healthcare IPOs and regularly advises clients during periods of significant organizational and leadership change.

David is certified in the Hogan Developmental Survey and 16PF psychometric analysis, bringing a rigorous assessment lens alongside his operating experience to his work with senior executives and leadership teams.

Prior to joining Russell Reynolds, David was a member of the leadership team at St. Jude Medical, where he held senior commercial roles across product management, sales, and marketing. He helped lead the turnaround of the company’s Neuromodulation business and was part of the broader leadership team that positioned St. Jude Medical for its $25 billion acquisition by Abbott Laboratories. Earlier in his career, David served as a nuclear engineer aboard a U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine.