Edward Pesicka

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director, Accendra Health, Inc.

Search every verified Edward Pesicka interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Edward Pesicka, President and CEO of Owens & Minor, has discussed the company's efforts to address healthcare supply chain challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, he described how the company ramped up production of personal protective equipment (PPE), including N95 masks and surgical gowns, by running manufacturing facilities 24/7 and adding shifts. Pesicka noted that demand from a single New York City hospital increased from roughly 10,000 to 20,000 masks per week to 200,000 to 300,000 masks per week, and he highlighted the company's domestic manufacturing capabilities in the Americas as a way to meet this surge. By August 2020, he stated that an imbalance between demand and supply for health supplies remained, and he discussed efforts to add incremental production capacity in the United States, including new lines in Del Rio, Texas, which came online ahead of schedule. In a later appearance in October 2021, Pesicka addressed broader supply chain issues, attributing port congestion to the over-reliance on imports from China and advocating for increased domestic manufacturing as a solution. He also mentioned sustainability initiatives, such as a pilot with Penske to use electric trucks in California, and emphasized the importance of leadership qualities like humility, strategic thinking, and the ability to communicate with both Wall Street and Main Street. Pesicka spoke about retaining talent at Owens & Minor, noting that the pandemic had been demanding on employees and that the company was exploring creative work schedules, career paths, and promotion opportunities to keep skilled workers.