ELYRIA, Ohio — Invacare Corp. announced this morning that A. Malachi Mixon, III, chairman and CEO, is taking a temporary medical leave.
In the meantime, Gerald B. Blouch, president and COO, will be interim CEO. Blouch has been with the Company since May 1990 and has been Chief Operating Officer since December 1994. James C. Boland, Invacare's lead director and a member of its board since 1998, will be interim chairman of the board of directors.
"I have suffered a mild stroke, but fortunately, my condition is stable and my doctors have told me the prognosis for a full recovery is favorable," Mixon said in a press statement. "I look forward to returning to Invacare soon to full duty. In the interim, I am pleased to have Gerry Blouch and Jim Boland assume responsibility for my day-to-day activities as CEO and Chairman of Invacare."
On behalf of the board, Boland commented, "In the interests of allowing Mal to focus on a speedy recovery, we are implementing a succession plan that we have had in place for some time. Gerry has the entire board's complete support and has full authority to act as CEO during this time. We have every confidence that Invacare's outstanding tenured management team will continue operations seamlessly."
Invacare is the country's largest manufacturer of home medical equipment. The company has 5,900 associates and markets its products in approximately 80 countries around the world.