Founder and CEO – João Rodrigues 

João Rodrigues is the founder and CEO of Heartmed LLC.  João is a recognized, results- focused commercial leader, with +20 years’ experience in healthcare and international markets, in companies like Medtronic, Booz Allen & Hamilton, Brazilian Health Ministry  and others.   

João worked for Medtronic for 13 years in a variety of leadership positions including VP of Cardiovascular for Latin America and VP of US Coronary and Structural Heart commercial operations.  He previously worked in Brazil, leading the infra-structure area of the REFORSUS project, a projected funded by the World Bank to reform the SUS public health system in Brazil.  

Since 2021, João has been leading Heartmed with its partnership with Sahajanand Medical Technologies to develop and implement its growth strategy in Latin America.  SMT has experienced tremendous growth in Latam, being its top growth region over the last 3 years, growing its stent business by +900% over this period, reaching top 3 market share position in stents in Brazil.  João is on the Board of Directors of SMT Ireland and SMT Brazil. 

João holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Brasília, an MBA from Indiana University and is an executive scholar from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.

 

Founder and CMO – Mariana Rodrigues 

Mariana Rodrigues is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Heartmed LLC.  Mariana brings over 20 years of experience in healthcare, having worked in marketing, education and market development in organizations like Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Guidant as well as non-for-profit and government institutions such as United Nations Development Programme and The Brazilian Health Ministry.    

In addition to Heartmed, Mariana is currently Director of Marketing of Alliance of Mercy US, a non-profit organization focused on expanding care of underprivileged children in Latin America and Africa. 

Mariana holds a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Brasília, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.