Zimmer Biomet has appointed Chintan Desai as the new president of its Asia Pacific region, effective immediately. Desai joins Zimmer from Alcon, where he worked as vice president and general manager of international growth and export markets.
Desai has experience leading medtech teams in the region, having worked at Alcon since 2022 and previously at GE HealthCare for over 22 years.
Chintan Desai will be based in Singapore and will lead Zimmer’s operations in the Asia Pacific region. He replaces Sang Yi, who will leave the company on August 28.
According to Zimmer Biomet CEO Ivan Tornos, Desai “knows this market, he knows how to lead and he will be a strong addition to our team.” Tornos highlighted Desai’s nearly three decades of leadership experience and deep expertise leading businesses across the Asia Pacific region.
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Zimmer’s international operations have faced scrutiny recently, with the company’s growth outside the US trailing behind domestic growth. Goldman Sachs analyst David Roman noted that the start of 2026 was “the first quarter in quite some time that growth has trailed the US and likely trailed where end markets look to be performing.”
Zimmer Biomet has been reconfiguring its go-to-market strategies in markets including China, moving from a large network of distributors to having one or two partners. This change has affected the company’s sales in the region, with Suketu Upadhyay, former CFO, expecting sales to be slightly down in China.
The company also expects the Asia Pacific region to be down year-over-year, primarily due to the Japan biennial price decrease. This price decrease is a “normal part of our business,” according to Upadhyay.
Before joining Alcon, Desai worked at GE HealthCare for over 22 years, gaining valuable experience in the medtech industry. His expertise in leading businesses across the Asia Pacific region will be an asset to Zimmer Biomet.
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As Desai takes on his new role, he will be responsible for leading Zimmer’s operations in the Asia Pacific region and driving growth in the company’s international markets. With his experience and expertise, Desai is well-positioned to make a positive impact on the company’s performance in the region.
In practice, Desai’s appointment may mean that Zimmer Biomet will focus on building stronger relationships with its partners in the Asia Pacific region, potentially leading to increased sales and growth. However, the company still faces challenges in the region, and Desai will need to work to address these issues and drive success for the company.
They still face challenges.
Zimmer Biomet‘s headquarters are located in Warsaw, Indiana, and the company has a significant presence in the Asia Pacific region. With Desai at the helm, the company is poised to make a strong impact in the region and drive growth in its international markets.