AHL 36 October 2026 | Page 39

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Drive
Medical
Consumers want home medical products that mirror a high-end retail experience
People are always at the center of his leadership approach, no matter how much the business grows. While Drive Medical’ s footprint has expanded, Derek puts people before products and culture before strategy.
A key turning point came in 2018.“ I told our then-CEO I wanted to make a broader impact than just in sales leadership. I got the chance to build a business unit for Drive Medical, so I could learn every aspect of the company and how to run a business. At the same time, I went after my Master of Business Administration( MBA) to accelerate my growth and knowledge.”
He adds,“ Those two milestones opened more opportunities for me to lead other areas, like operations, supply chain, logistics, and eventually president and chief operating officer( COO).” By the time Derek became CEO, he had developed a deep understanding of how Drive Medical designs, manufactures, sources, ships, and supports its products.
Beyond commodities
Drive Medical now offers more than 5000 products, from mobility and respiratory care to long-term care, bathroom safety, pediatric rehab, patient room equipment, and daily living aids. Customers span home healthcare, long-term care, retail, government, and e-commerce channels.
Derek rarely talks about the company’ s growth in terms of size alone. Instead, he focuses on the role these products play. Many treat the categories Drive Medical serves as functional necessities, but Derek sees a chance to raise expectations.
People expect home medical equipment to be intuitive, comfortable at home, and designed for daily life.“ Consumers want
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