He succeeds Mike McMullen in the new job, which he starts on May 1.
Since May 2020, McDonnell (52) has served as president of Agilent CrossLab Group, a division of the corporation. In November 2021, he was also appointed chief commercial officer.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in science and a master’s degree in biochemistry from Maynooth University. In addition, he has post-graduate diplomas from UCD in strategy and innovation and the University of Galway in chemistry and biochemistry. He also holds a degree from Cavan’s St Patrick’s College. In 1998, he began working with Agilent’s predecessor, HP.
McMullen, who has been CEO of Agilent since 2015, spun off the firm’s electronic measurement division to Keysight Technologies, and then turned Agilent into a life sciences and diagnostics company.
Agilent’s technology helps scientists with patient diagnoses, cutting-edge life science research, and testing necessary to guarantee the safety of food, water, and medications. With operations in 110 countries and more than 18,000 employees worldwide, its full-year revenues in 2023 were $6.8 billion (€6.3 billion).
The chairman of Agilent‘s board of directors, Koh Boon Hwee, stated: “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.”