Career Trajectory
A progression of roles and responsibilities shaping judgment across regulated medical technology, governance, and complex decision environments.
Overview
Eric Heinz’s career reflects a deliberate progression through engineering, product leadership, corporate development, and governance roles within highly regulated medical technology environments. Each chapter has contributed to a practical, judgment-driven approach to risk assessment, value creation, and fiduciary responsibility.
This trajectory informs his work today as an advisor, board director, and expert witness.
Early Career: Engineering Foundation
Eric began his career as an engineer at Medtronic Sofamor Danek, working within a highly regulated environment where product safety, design controls, and risk management were central to daily decision-making.
This early experience established a disciplined approach to:
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Technical rigor and documentation
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Risk identification and mitigation
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Cross-functional collaboration with quality, regulatory, and clinical stakeholders
The engineering foundation continues to influence how Eric evaluates product decisions, organizational behavior, and downstream risk.
Product & Commercial Leadership
As his career progressed, Eric moved into product management and commercial leadership roles across multiple surgical specialties, including as product manager at Intuitive Surgical. In these roles, he was responsible for translating technical innovation into clinically viable, market-ready solutions.
During this phase, Eric:
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Led product development initiatives for regulated medical devices
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Managed product portfolios spanning multiple indications and geographies
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Worked closely with regulatory, quality, and manufacturing teams
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Navigated complex tradeoffs between innovation, compliance, and commercial execution
He also served as a product leader during an FDA enforcement action, where he led remediation efforts, CAPA processes, and responses to FDA Form 483 observations, experience that informs his understanding of regulatory scrutiny and organizational accountability.
Corporate Development
Eric later transitioned into corporate development and strategic roles, focusing on mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alternatives within the medtech sector.
In these roles, he:
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Executed and advised on M&A transactions totaling more than $250 million
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Evaluated strategic partnerships, divestitures, and acquisition targets
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Led diligence efforts spanning technical, regulatory, commercial, and organizational risk
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Supported boards and executive teams during periods of transition and restructuring
Most recently, as Vice President of Market and Corporate Development at Titan Medical, Eric guided a strategic alternatives process during a pivotal period in the company’s evolution, working closely with the board and senior leadership.
Governance, Advisory & Expert Work
Building on this operating and transactional background, Eric’s work increasingly focuses on governance, advisory, and independent expert roles.
He currently serves or has served as:
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An independent board director and advisor to early-stage and growth-stage companies
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An expert witness in matters involving product liability, transaction disputes, unfair competition, and regulatory considerations
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A mentor, judge, and advisor within academic and entrepreneurial ecosystems
Across these engagements, Eric brings a governance-first mindset, emphasizing independence, objectivity, and structured decision-making.
Perspective Today
Eric’s career trajectory is not defined by titles alone, but by cumulative exposure to:
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Regulated product development
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High-stakes decision environments
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Board-level accountability
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Transactional complexity
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Litigation and dispute contexts
This breadth of experience allows him to assess issues holistically, balancing technical detail with strategic, fiduciary, and human considerations.
How This Informs Current Work
Today, Eric applies this accumulated judgment in his work as:
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An independent board director
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An expert witness
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A strategic and M&A advisor
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A mentor and ecosystem participant
His approach is grounded in experience, independence, and a clear understanding of how decisions made early can reverberate through organizations, markets, and legal proceedings.