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Exactech announces new CEO, co-founders to retire

Emily Mavrakis
emavrakis@gvillesun.com
Darin Johnson [Photo submitted by Exactech]

Exactech, a developer and producer of implants and instruments for joint-replacement surgery founded and headquartered in Gainesville, on Monday announced a new CEO and the retirement of its co-founders.

The company, perhaps best known around town as the naming rights sponsor of Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, will be led by Darin Johnson.

Johnson, 44, grew up in Gainesville and joined the company in 2002 after five years in the investment banking industry.

Johnson led the original team for Exactech’s best-selling product line, a shoulder system.

Since 2018, he served as Senior Vice President of Extremities, where he led global teams of orthopaedic surgeons, product managers, engineers and sales professionals.

Listening to customers’ needs and developing products to improve their lifestyles is one of the key ways Exactech has been a successful innovator, Johnson said.

“We take patients who can hardly walk, then get a knee replacement surgery, and now they can play with their grandchildren,” he said.

He said he hopes to continue the company’s trend of rapid growth. In 2018, Exactech had a record $325 million in sales, an increase of nearly $100 million since 2013.

“I know who we are, and where we’re going,” Johnson said. “With our team of experienced, passionate employees, we’ll know how to get there.”

The company employs more than 500 people in Gainesville and 900 total worldwide.

Exactech’s product line has grown from a single product — a cemented hip, to include knee, bone cement and shoulder products. In 2017, it developed its first products for ankles.

Johnson said it can take anywhere from two to four years to fully research and develop a surgery product or system.

Exatech has also developed ExactechGPS, a computer system that helps guide surgeons to increase accuracy and precision on the operating table by showing step-by-step images of the surgery space and joint, said spokeswoman Priscilla Bennett.

“Just like today we couldn’t imagine using an old map to try going down a dark country road, some surgeons can’t imagine doing surgery without it,” she said.

Dr. Bill Petty, an orthopedic surgeon, and his wife Betty Petty co-founded Exatech Inc., headquartered at 2320 NW 66th Court, in 1985.

Bill Petty has stepped down as co-executive chairman and Betty Petty from her role as vice president of administration and corporate security, to retire. It will be the first time in the company’s 35-year history they won’t have active roles at Exactech.

Outgoing CEO David Petty, the founders’ son who held the position since 2014, will become vice chairman of the Exactech board of directors.