Dr. Joaquin Delgado, executive vice president of 3M’s Health Care Business Group, is a scientist at heart. With a doctorate in polymer science and engineering and an early goal of being a chemist, Joaquin was attracted to 3M from the beginning. But it wasn’t until his career at the company began to flourish that he discovered a real passion for not just science, but for where it intersects with business and real-world solutions.
3M Health Care is a multibillion-dollar business group that provides hospitals, doctors and other medical markets with solutions for infection prevention, oral care, drug delivery and food safety.
“Coming to 3M to work in science was one of the best decisions of my life—it’s simply the best place to be to bring to market scientific and technological discoveries that make a positive difference in people’s lives,” Joaquin says. “3M remains true to our core values even as we evolve over time, and that’s something rare, the ability to stay relevant to the needs of customers for over a century.”
Before taking the helm of the Health Care Business Group, Joaquin was executive vice president of what was then called the 3M Electro and Communications Business, based in Austin, Texas. He also served as vice president and general manager of the Electronics Markets Materials Division. Joaquin began his career with 3M in 1987 as a senior polymer chemist in the Adhesive Technologies Center, a laboratory he later led.
He has held other leadership roles in research and development and New Business Ventures, Consumer and Office Business. During several years in Asia, Joaquin served as the corporate development laboratory manager in Japan; technical director in Singapore for the 3M Asia Pacific region; and managing director of 3M Korea. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the Stepan Company.
Joaquin’s passion for science is matched by his passion for the natural world and the arts. A board member of the MacPhail Center for Music and a former board member of Ballet Austin, he also pursues photography and his love of the outdoors.