Baxter Interim CFO Anita Zielinski Departs for Cardinal Health Accounting Role
Baxter's interim CFO Anita Zielinski is departing for an executive accounting position at Cardinal Health, effective mid-September, with both companies confirming the move in early August. Zielinski, who joined Baxter in February 2025 and became interim CFO in March, will succeed Mary Scherer at Cardinal.
Anita Zielinski, who has served as Baxter's interim chief financial officer, is leaving the medical technology company to take on an executive accounting role at Cardinal Health, according to securities filings from both firms.
Zielinski will depart Baxter on Sept. 15 and will begin her new position as Cardinal Health's chief accounting officer on Nov. 5. Both companies disclosed the leadership transition during the first week of August.
Career trajectory
Zielinski joined Baxter in February 2025 as chief accounting officer and controller. In March, following the departure of former CFO Joel Grade, she was appointed interim CFO. Prior to Baxter, Zielinski spent seven years at Sysco and more than two decades at Ernst & Young.
Compensation and transition details
At Cardinal Health, Zielinski will succeed Mary Scherer, the company's current chief accounting officer. According to a securities filing, Zielinski will receive a cash sign-on bonus of $750,000 and $1 million in restricted share units that vest over three years.
Baxter's ongoing leadership changes
Baxter has not yet named a permanent CFO. The company has experienced other recent leadership shifts, including naming a new CEO in July 2025 after recovering from hurricane damage to a manufacturing plant and divesting its kidney care and biopharma solutions units.