The board of directors of Baxter International has named José Almeida the company's chairman and chief executive officer effective Jan. 1, 2016. Almeida will join the company immediately as an executive officer to facilitate a smooth leadership transition.

Almeida will succeed Robert Parkinson, Jr., who has served as the company’s chairman and CEO since 2004. Parkinson will assume the title of chairman emeritus.

“Joe brings to Baxter tremendous experience in the global medical products marketplace and has a demonstrated record of improving profitability and creating value for all stakeholders,” said Parkinson. “His deep understanding of the complex global supply chain will be a great strength for the company as he oversees a broad portfolio of medically necessary products across a geographically expansive marketplace. What Joe brings to Baxter in skill and experience is imperative to the company’s stated goal of accelerating profitable growth over the near and long term."

Almeida was chairman, president and CEO of Covidien from 2012 through 2015 and was named a director of the company in 2011. Previously, Almeida was president of its medical devices organization. In that position, he oversaw several businesses accounting for about two-thirds of the company's total annual revenues and about three-quarters of its operating profit.

In addition to Covidien, Almeida held leadership positions at Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, American Home Products' Acufex Microsurgical division and Johnson & Johnson's Professional Products division.