Convatec Group plc (LON:CTEC) has announced the appointment of Jill McConnell as Chief Financial Officer (Designate), effective 1 January 2027. Jill will become Chief Financial Officer and a Director of the Company on 1 March 2027, succeeding Fiona Ryder.
Fiona will remain CFO through publication of the full-year results on 23 February 2027. She will support the transition until she leaves the business at the end of February.
Jill is a seasoned public-company CFO with more than 25 years of finance leadership experience across healthcare and life sciences, especially in the United States. Most recently, she was Chief Financial Officer of Fortrea, a US-listed global contract research organisation providing clinical development solutions, with revenues of over $2.5 billion. She helped establish Fortrea as a standalone listed company following its spin-off from Labcorp in 2023. Her experience spans investor engagement, performance management, cost and cash management, capital allocation and business transformation. She previously held senior finance roles at Labcorp, including CFO of Labcorp Drug Development, and spent almost two decades at GSK, where her roles included CFO of its multibillion-dollar US pharmaceuticals business and CFO of ViiV Healthcare, as well as positions based in the UK and Ireland.
Jill will report to Jonny Mason, become a member of the Convatec Executive Leadership Team (CELT) and attend Board meetings from 1 January 2027. She will lead Finance, Corporate Strategy & Development, Convatec Business Services and Investor Relations from 1 March 2027, when she becomes CFO and a member of the Board. Her appointment supports delivery of our Accelerate strategy and our commitment to accelerated, sustainable and profitable growth.
As announced in July 2026, Fiona Ryder will stand down as CFO as part of an orderly succession. Fiona joined Convatec in January 2022 and played an important role in strengthening the Finance function, establishing Convatec Business Services and advancing the company’s simplification and productivity agenda.
Jonny Mason, Chief Executive Officer, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Jill to Convatec. Jill brings deep healthcare experience, especially from the US which is Convatec’s largest market, public-company CFO experience and a strong track record in investor engagement, performance management, cost and cash management, capital allocation and business transformation. As we enter the next phase of Accelerate, Jill’s leadership will help us execute our strategy and create value for patients, customers and shareholders. I look forward to working closely with Jill as we continue to accelerate delivery at Convatec. I would like to thank Fiona for her substantial contribution to Convatec and for her continued support in ensuring a smooth and orderly transition.”
Fiona Ryder, Chief Financial Officer, said: “It has been a privilege to be part of the Convatec team since 2022 and to have contributed, alongside a great team, to the successful turnaround of a business that makes such a positive difference to patients and customers. I’m grateful to colleagues across the business for their partnership and support. I look forward to welcoming Jill and working with her to ensure a smooth handover.”
Jill McConnell, Chief Financial Officer (Designate), said: “I’m delighted to be joining Convatec at such an exciting point in its journey. The company has a clear strategy, strong momentum and a compelling purpose centred on improving patients’ lives. I look forward to working with colleagues across Convatec to accelerate sustainable growth and create long-term value for patients, customers and shareholders.”
