John W. Brown started his career as an engineer for the Ormet Corporation, an aluminum manufacturer, and then worked for Thiokol Chemical Corporation where he worked on rocket propellants. In 1965, Brown joined Squibb Corporation where he worked in various middle management positions, including assistant to the president.

In 1972, Brown became president of Edward Weck & Company, a subsidiary of Squibb Corporation, a position he held until 1977 when he became president and chief executive officer of Stryker Corporation./p>

Brown was appointed chairman of the board of Stryker Corporation in 1980. He is a director of National City Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio; and Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts. He also is a director of the American Business Conference, a coalition of chief executive officers of mid-size, high growth companies; AdvaMed (Advanced Medical Technology Association), Washington, D.C.; and is a member of the board of trustees of The Food and Drug Law Institute, Washington, D.C.

Brown is a graduate of Auburn University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He is married and has two grown daughters