Masimo COO Muhsin to resign if activist investor Politan takes control

(Reuters) - Masimo Chief Operating Officer Bilal Muhsin has told the board he would resign if activist investor Politan Capital Management takes control of the company and CEO Joe Kiani is removed, according to a regulatory filing.

Masimo has been locked in a proxy contest with Quentin Koffey-owned Politan, which owns nearly a 9% stake in the medical device maker and has sought to get its own candidates elected on the company's board.

The activist investor had criticized the company's board oversight, selection of directors by Kiani and expressed concerns about its $1 billion purchase of consumer audio products unit Sound United in 2022.

"I strongly disagree with the false accusations made by Politan in its recent fight letter and deck and have no intention of remaining with the company if Quentin Koffey and Politan take control of it," the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said, citing Muhsin's resignation letter.

Politan declined to comment.

Politan had in March nominated William Jellison, former CFO of Stryker, and Darlene Solomon, former CTO of Agilent Technologies, as its candidates to Masimo's six-member board.

Masimo had said in May it was prepared to appoint Jellison as a director on its board, if the activist investor withdraws its other nominee and drops its proxy contest.

Politan, however, had said it would not oppose the re-election of Kiani to the company's board.

(Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)