Dirk Bontridder has been appointed CEO of the independent microbiology diagnostics platform resulting from the completion of Astorg’s acquisition of the global microbiology business from Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Bontridder brings more than 25 years of international leadership experience across life sciences, diagnostics and industrial technology. Most recently, he served as CEO of PerkinElmer. He previously served as CEO of Reynaers Group and as Group executive vice president BioPharma Services & Clinical Diagnostics at Eurofins Scientific. Bontridder began his career as a management consultant at McKinsey.
In April, the pan European private equity firm signed a definitive agreement to acquire New York-listed Thermo Fisher Scientific’s microbiology business for approximately US$1.075bn, consisting of cash and a US$50m seller note.
The completion of the transaction establishes an independent company, with the microbiology business providing the foundation of a global microbiology diagnostics platform serving the clinical, food safety and pharmaceutical markets.
The Microbiology business is a global provider of diagnostic consumables and equipment used in microbiological testing across clinical, food safety, and pharmaceutical applications. The business serves more than 15,000 customers across over 100 countries and employs approximately 2,400 employees across 13 manufacturing and R&D sites around the world.
The business will launch under a new corporate brand later in 2026.
Bontridder will lead the company through its next stage of growth, in partnership with Astorg.
