Henry Schein on Tuesday named Frederick Lowery as its next chief executive officer, effective March 2, handing leadership of the global dental and medical products distributor to an executive with deep experience running large-scale distribution operations.
Lowery will succeed Stanley Bergman, who will step down after 35 years as CEO and remain chairman of the board. Lowery will also join Henry Schein’s board upon assuming the role.
Lowery most recently served as executive vice president and president of Laboratory Products and BioProduction at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he led the Fisher Scientific distribution business. His responsibilities spanned distribution operations, owned brands, manufacturing, research and development, marketing, and sales.
Henry Schein said Lowery’s background overseeing complex distribution networks and supply chain operations aligns with the company’s focus on scale, execution, and earnings discipline across its dental and medical businesses.
“I am honored to join Henry Schein at such a pivotal moment,” Lowery said in a statement.
Under his employment agreement, Lowery will receive a base salary of $1.25 million and a target annual bonus opportunity of at least 150% of base salary under the company’s incentive plan. For fiscal 2026, bonus performance will be weighted 70% toward earnings per share and 30% toward the company’s strategic scorecard, with a maximum payout of 175% of target. The minimum target bonus for 2026 is $1.875 million.
Lowery will also be eligible for annual equity awards. For fiscal 2026, those awards will have a target grant-date value of $10 million. In addition, he will receive a one-time cash bonus of $1.184 million and a $2.5 million sign-on equity award in restricted stock units that vest over three years.
Henry Schein will reimburse relocation expenses of up to $500,000, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The agreement includes severance protections under the company’s executive compensation plans, including cash severance tied to salary and prior bonus levels, prorated incentive awards, and equity treatment. Enhanced benefits apply in the event of a change in control, subject to plan terms.
The leadership change comes as Henry Schein continues to emphasize procurement efficiency, logistics performance, and integrated supply chain capabilities for dental and medical practices worldwide.
Bergman said Lowery’s operational background positions him to lead the company through its next phase. Board members cited his experience across commercial, logistics and manufacturing operations. Investor KKR, which has a board representative at Henry Schein, also supported the appointment.
Before joining Thermo Fisher, Lowery held leadership roles at Maytag Corp. and General Motors. He holds a master’s degree in manufacturing management from Kettering University and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Tennessee Technological University.
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