Leadership Team
Meet the visionaries guiding Solesis—a global leader in applied biomaterial solutions leveraging medical textiles and polymer-based platforms for healthcare solutions that advance health and restorative healing.
John Witkowski
President & Chief Executive Officer
John Witkowski joined Solesis in 2024 as President & CEO. He is responsible for developing the strategic priorities for Solesis and executing world-class business operations to support customers and drive long-term, sustainable growth.
With nearly 30 years of experience spanning the medical device and biopharmaceutical industries, John has extensive experience in leading organizations through periods of significant growth and innovation. Most recently, he served as President of DSM Biomedical, the global biomaterials division of DSM-Firmenich. His strong track record of growth, both organically and through mergers & acquisitions, positions Solesis for sustainable growth and continued success.
John holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Iona College. He currently serves as a board member for PA Life Sciences and Unshattered, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the addiction relapse cycle.
Gersen Gabriel
Chief Operating Officer
Gersen Gabriel joined Solesis in 2024 as Chief Operating Officer. He is responsible for the strategy and direction of operations, facilities and maintenance, supply chain, and Quality teams.
He brings a proven record of success in Lean Manufacturing, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen Methodology, and EBITDA growth plan execution in the medical device manufacturing and life sciences sectors. Gersen has more than 15 years of leadership experience across all facets of business operations. Prior to joining Solesis, he served as Vice President of Global Operations for DSM Biomedical. His ability to build collaborative, team-based work environments enables him to achieve world-class operational performance at Solesis.
Gersen earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University at Buffalo and holds a Green Belt Certification in training from Stryker.
Eric Shelton
Chief Commercial Officer
Eric Shelton joined Solesis in 2024 as Chief Commercial Officer. He is responsible for the full scope of the Commercial organization, including Commercial Development, Marketing, and Product Development.
With more than 20 years of commercial experience across the medical device and biopharmaceutical industries, Eric has a deep understanding of Solesis’ markets and proven expertise in developing and executing strategies that drive global growth. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Global Commercial, for DSM Biomedical. His forward-thinking leadership and customer-centric vision position Solesis for continued success.
Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on management from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Brandon West
Chief Financial Officer
Brandon West joined Solesis in 2025 as Chief Financial Officer. He is responsible for all financial aspects of Solesis and its family of companies, including financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and accounting.
Brandon is a strategic finance executive with a strong record of driving EBITDA growth, optimizing operational footprints, and executing mergers and acquisitions. He brings more than 20 years of experience in capital management and operational efficiency. Prior to joining Solesis, Brandon served as CFO of North America for Arcade Beauty. His expertise in working capital management and operational performance in leveraged environments is essential to leading Solesis’ financial functions.
Brandon earned an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in Russian from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served as a Company Grade Infantry Officer.
Marc Hendriks
Vice President, Corporate Development
Marc Hendriks joined Solesis in 2024 as VP, Corporate Development. He is responsible for identifying and evaluating strategic opportunities, partnerships, and mergers & acquisitions, and leads Solesis’ strategy, growth, and expansion efforts, including R&D.
Marc is a hands-on, results-driven leader with a long record of success across diverse business functions internationally. He has more than 30 years of experience in R&D and business development. Prior to joining Solesis, Marc served as Vice President of Strategy & Business Development for DSM Biomedical. He brings a unique ability to drive business growth while championing excellence programs in Quality, Security, Organizational Culture, Change Management, and Employee Engagement.
Marc earned a PhD from the Eindhoven University of Technology and an MBA from the Maastricht University School of Business and Economics. He also completed Executive Finance courses at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Executive Leadership Programs through DSM’s Business Academy.