Biography
About Art
Art Collins leads the firm’s work with commercial clients.
With over 80 years of cumulative corporate board experience, Art has served as a director at Alcoa, Arconic, Boeing, Cargill, Decision Sciences International, Medtronic, Tennant, and US Bancorp. He also served as a member of the board of overseers of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the board of trustees of the Walker Art Center, and as chairman of AdvaMed, the medical technology industry association.
During Art’s tenure as chairman & CEO and president & COO of Medtronic, both revenue and earnings per share grew at a compound growth rate over 15%. Medtronic, the world’s largest medical technology company, has been cited as one of the most admired companies, known for strong corporate governance and community involvement.
Art joined Medtronic from Abbott Laboratories where he had been corporate vice president responsible for Abbott’s worldwide diagnostic business units and holding general management positions in the U.S. and Europe. Before joining Abbott, he served as a line officer in the U. S. Navy and was a consultant with Booz, Allen & Hamilton in Chicago.
While a senior advisor to Oak Hill Capital Partners, Art advised several early-stage technology companies. In addition to Art’s business and civic endeavors, he authored The Adventures of Archibald and Jockabeb, a 9-book series of adventure/fantasy stories for children.
Art received a BS degree and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He also holds an MBA degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he was a member of the undergraduate faculty. He earned Wharton’s 2023 Alumni Award for Distinguished Service and the 2018 Wharton Alumni Club of New York Joseph Wharton Lifetime Achievement Award.
Professional Perspectives
- When the Going Gets Tough… (April 3, 2020)
- Lessons in Leadership I Learned as a Naval Officer (November 2, 2018)
- Joseph Wharton Lifetime Achievement Award Acceptance Speech (October 14, 2018)
- The Power of an Honest Apology (June 7, 2017)
- My Word Is My Bond—Or Is It? (March 25, 2017)
- Truth and Leadership (February 14, 2017)
- Fifteen Keys to Research and Development Success (March 15, 2016)
Joseph Wharton Lifetime Achievement Award,
Acceptance Speech (2018)
Celebrating Earl Bakken, One Man’s Full Life (2018)
US Bancorp Board Leadership, Fireside Chat (2016)
Assorted Earning Reports Video Segments
Profiles
- “Art Collins, WG’73, Medtronic – Called to Lead,” readwny.com (January 12, 2019)
- “Living A Non-Linear Life,” The Journey Magazine, Farmer School of Business (Summer, 2018)
- “How Honest Apologies Can Help Leaders Bounce Back,” Knowledge at Wharton/SiriusXM (Jul 28, 2017)
- “15 Keys to Medtech R&D Success,” MedTech Strategist (March 30, 2016)
- “ON BOARD: Art Collins Brings a Unique Perspective to Cargill,” Cargill.com (February 2016)
- “Meet the Lead Director of U.S. Bancorp,” U.S. Bancorp newsletter (December 7, 2015)
- “Collins Gift Supports Social Entrepreneurship,” Miami University, Farmer School of Business (September 2010)
- “Oak Hill Capital Names Art Collins as Senior Advisor,” Oak Hill Capital (April 2, 2009)
- “125 Influential People and Ideas, A Medical Calling Redirected, Arthur D Collins Jr, WG 73,” Wharton Alumni Magazine, Special Anniversary Issue (Spring 2007)
- “Medtronic Announces Succession Plans for CEO and COO,” Business Wire (February 2007)
- “The Wharton School’s Advanced Management Program Welcomes Art Collins as Guest Speaker,” Globe News Wire (September 13, 2006)
- “Medtronic CEO: Medical Technology is the Path to Increased Healthcare Value,” Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry (January 1, 2006)
- “Inventing the 21st-Century Arts Center,” Walker Art Center Capital Campaign (September 2004)
- “Medtronic Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Art Collins to Serve as Chairman of AdvaMed,” Business Wire (March 5, 2004)
- “CEO of the Week, Art Collins,” CNN Money (May 23, 2003)
- “Our Daily Bread,” RBC Ministries publication (November 2002)
- “Organic Growth,” EDN Network (July 2002)
- “Medtronic to Name Collins to succeed George as CEO,” The Wall Street Journal (August 24, 2000)
- “New CEO Art Collins on future of the company,” Minnesota Public Radio (August 24, 2000)
PDFs
- Medtronic, Annual Report, Report from the Chairman and CEO (2007)
- University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton Economic Summit, Keynote and Featured Speaker, Art Collins, WG73 (April 2007)
- NYSE Magazine, “Setting the Pace, A Company with Heart” (October/November 2006)
- Miami University, “Commencement, The Honorary Degrees, Arthur D. Collins, Jr, Doctor of Laws” (2006)
- NYSE Magazine, “Life’s Work” (March/April 2003)
- NYSE Magazine, “Harnessing Brainpower” (September/October 2003)
- Daily Camera, “CEO, Mission Key to Ethics” (February 6, 2003)
- Business Week Magazine, “The Best Performers” (Spring 2003)
- Institutional Investor, “Hail to the Chiefs” (January 2003)
- Wharton Alumni Magazine, “A Labor of Love, Art Collins, WG 73” (Summer 2002)
- Corporate Board Member, “Grow Your Own CEO” (March/April 2002)
- Northwest Airlines, World Traveler Magazine, “The Business of Saving Lives” December 2001)
- Darwin Magazine, “Darwin Fittest 50, Innovate Your Heart Out,” (October 2001)
- Saint Paul Pioneer Press, “New CEOs, New Pressures” (June 24, 2001)
- MX Magazine, “Medtronic’s Grand Opera, Art Collins, Bill George” (May/June 2001)
- Star Tribune, “Medtronic Meets Earnings Target” (May 23, 2001)
- The Wharton Journal, “Alumnus of the Week” (September 10, 2001)
- World Trade Magazine, “Mending Hearts” (March 1994)