Azenta CEO John Marotta Resigns; Martin Madaus Named Interim CEO
Azenta, Inc. announced CEO John Marotta's resignation and the appointment of Martin Madaus as interim CEO, effective August 22, 2026.
What happened
Azenta, Inc. (NASDAQ: AZTA) disclosed in an SEC filing that John P. Marotta resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors, effective August 22, 2026. The company stated the resignation was not due to any disagreement with the company on operations, policies, or practices.
The Board reduced its size from nine to eight members and elected Dr. Martin D. Madaus as Interim President and CEO. Dr. Madaus, a board member since January 2024, will also serve as principal executive officer for SEC reporting purposes. He will step down as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee during his interim service.
The company's stock fell sharply, closing at $32.88 on August 24, 2026, down 12.09% from the previous close of $37.40, with trading volume more than double the average.
Context
Azenta, Inc. is a special industry machinery company that provides life sciences solutions, including sample management and storage, cold chain logistics, and genomic services.
Dr. Madaus has extensive experience in the life sciences sector, having previously served as Chairman, President and CEO of Millipore Corporation, leading its sale to Merck KGaA, and as Chairman and CEO of Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. He is currently a Senior Operating Executive at The Carlyle Group.
The filing did not provide a reason for Mr. Marotta's departure beyond stating it was not due to any disagreement. The company said it is reviewing compensation for Dr. Madaus in his new role.
What this means
This is a Form 8-K filing, which public companies must file with the SEC to announce major events that shareholders should know about. Items 5.02 and 7.01 cover changes in directors or officers and Regulation FD disclosure, respectively.
The immediate departure of a CEO is a significant event. An interim CEO is appointed to maintain leadership continuity while the board searches for a permanent replacement. The market's negative reaction suggests investors were surprised or concerned by the leadership change.
The next step is typically for the board to conduct a search for a permanent CEO. Investors will watch for further announcements about the company's leadership and strategic direction.
Sources
- Daily price and volume history
- 8-K filed 2026-08-24
Information summarized by AI from the sources listed above. May contain errors — informational only, not investment advice.