Christopher Roche is a distinguished senior executive with over 23 years of experience in the medical device and biomedical engineering industries. Renowned for his visionary leadership, technical expertise, and global influence, Christopher has dedicated his career to advancing orthopedic innovation, driving clinical excellence, and leading large-scale, high-impact business operations.
Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Extremities at Exactech, Christopher leads one of the orthopedic industry’s most innovative and dynamic business units. Under his leadership, Exactech’s extremities division released its first product in 2004, and has steadily grown with each successive product innovation to become more than a $200 million enterprise in 2024, setting new benchmarks in orthopedic design and enabling orthopedic technologies. His tenure with Exactech spans over two decades, from being the original engineer on the company’s flagship shoulder product in 2003, growing to lead the engineering and clinical divisions, and ultimately accepting the pivotal executive role as leader of the company’s largest business unit in 2020. These roles and responsibilities have uniquely positioned him at the intersection of R&D, clinical strategy, and global commercialization in the field of orthopedics.
Christopher’s academic credentials are equally robust. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Florida, a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Kentucky, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Mercer University. This unique blend of engineering and business acumen fuels his effectiveness in bridging technical development with market-driven execution for the past two decades.
An acknowledged thought leader in the orthopedic community, Christopher has authored over 140 peer-reviewed publications in esteemed journals such as Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (JSES), Bone and Joint Journal (BJJ), and Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS). He is also an accomplished inventor with 38 issued patents worldwide, covering breakthrough designs in humeral and glenoid prostheses, fracture fixation systems, machine learning based predictive outcome clinical decision support tools, and intraoperative surgical tools. His work has had a transformative impact on clinical outcomes in both anatomic and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
Christopher contributes significantly to the scientific and professional community as a reviewer for more than a dozen top-tier journals, including Scientific Reports by Nature and JSES, and is a member of 15+ professional associations such as the Orthopedic Research Society and the International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty. Christopher has also worked with the American Society of Testing and Materials to develop multiple orthopedic standards. For his work in developing ASTM F 2028, he was awarded the Robert E Fairer Award in 2016. Most recently in 2025, Christopher was inducted into the prestigious American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers (AIMBE) College of Fellows, placing him among the top 2% of medical and biological engineers.
Actively serving on the Undergraduate Engineering Advisory Board at Mercer University, Christopher is now exploring broader board opportunities. Motivated by a desire to give back and expand his impact, he aims to leverage his deep domain knowledge, strategic insight, and leadership experience to support organizations navigating innovation, regulation, and growth in complex global markets.
With unmatched expertise in medical devices, a track record of commercial success, and a passion for mentoring the next generation of healthcare and engineering leaders, Christopher Roche stands out as a transformative leader ready to add significant value to forward-looking boards and executive teams.
Character: Christopher demonstrates integrity, dedication, and a commitment to service, as evidenced by his long-standing leadership, global collaboration, and early achievement as an Eagle Scout.
Knowledge: With over two decades of experience and advanced degrees in biomedical engineering and business, Christopher brings deep subject matter expertise in orthopedic technology and medical device innovation.
Strategic: He has successfully led a $200 million global business unit, showcasing his ability to drive long-term growth through visionary planning, product development, and market expansion.
Communication: As a published author of over 140 peer-reviewed papers, frequent speaker, and active journal reviewer, Christopher effectively conveys complex ideas to both technical and executive audiences.
