Pete Dankwerth

Pete Dankwerth joined Merit in May 2026 as Executive Vice President, Global Enterprise Excellence. In this newly created role, he leads enterprise-wide initiatives focused on operational effectiveness, continuous improvement, global execution, and change management, including leadership of Merit’s long-range planning and the establishment of a global program management office. He also oversees several departments, including Information Systems and Technologies, Enterprise Risk Management, ESG, Security, Procurement, and Facilities. Prior to joining Merit, Dankwerth served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Quality and Risk Officer at PAR Systems, where he led finance, risk management, quality, information technology, business systems, facilities, and EHS. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Sodexo, Smiths Medical, Honeywell, Ecolab, Johnson Controls, and General Electric, with responsibilities spanning global finance, supply chain, and operational excellence. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.