Agilent CEO Mike McMullen to Retire; Agilent CrossLab Group President Padraig McDonnell Named CEO-Elect

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that Padraig McDonnell, president of the Agilent CrossLab Group (ACG), has been named CEO-elect and chief operating officer (COO) of the company, succeeding current President and CEO Mike McMullen who will retire. McDonnell will become Agilent’s president and CEO and join Agilent’s Board of Directors on May 1.

After nearly 40 years with Agilent and its predecessor Hewlett-Packard Co., McMullen will continue as CEO and as a member of the Agilent Board of Directors until May 1. He will then become an adviser to McDonnell and Agilent until his retirement Oct. 31.

“After a thorough succession process, I’m pleased that Padraig McDonnell has been selected as Agilent’s next CEO. This is a clear illustration of the quality and depth of the Agilent team,” said Koh Boon Hwee, chairman of Agilent’s Board of Directors. “I also want to thank Mike for his outstanding leadership as CEO. He is handing the reins over to Padraig at a time of strength for Agilent.

“Padraig has been a success in every role he’s held at Agilent. I’m confident that as Agilent’s next CEO, he will continue that record of success and build on the many achievements that have been attained during Mike McMullen’s nine years as CEO.”

McDonnell, 52, has been president of ACG since May 2020 and was also named chief commercial officer in November 2021.

In his most recent role, McDonnell drove exceptional growth in Agilent’s Services business, with significant improvements in profitability and customer satisfaction. As chief commercial officer he also led the transformation of the customer experience at Agilent by improving the end-to-end customer journey.

Prior to becoming ACG president, McDonnell was vice president and general manager of Agilent’s Chemistries and Supplies Division, a role to which he was named in 2017. He has been in the analytical- and scientific-instrument industry for 26 years, starting his career with Agilent’s predecessor Hewlett-Packard Co. in 1998.

“I am both honored and energized to succeed Mike and become Agilent’s next CEO,” McDonnell said. “Mike has been a great mentor to me, and I welcome his continued support. Agilent’s future will be defined by continued innovation, growth, and a relentless focus on our customers.”

McMullen, 63, has served as Agilent CEO since 2015. Prior to becoming CEO, he was president of the company's Chemical Analysis Group (CAG) from 2009 until November 2014. During his tenure as CEO, he led Agilent’s transformation into a market leading life-sciences and diagnostics company after the spin-off of the company’s electronic measurement business, now Keysight Technologies.