Milan, Italy (September 1, 2026) – Starkey, a global leader in AI-driven hearing technology, is pleased to announce the appointment of Barbara Zancan, as the new Managing Director for Starkey Italy. Barbara brings more than 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles across major medical device and healthcare organizations, including Medela, Sivantos, and Walgreens. She has a proven track record of delivering market growth by leveraging market intelligence, implementing successful go-to-market strategies, unlocking new commercial opportunities, and building high-performing teams.
As Managing Director, Barbara will be responsible for leading Starkey Italy’s overall business strategy and operations, accelerating growth and market share, strengthening customer relationships, and ensuring the organization continues to deliver exceptional value to hearing healthcare professionals and their patients. She will drive initiatives that position Starkey for long-term success in one of Europe’s most important hearing healthcare markets.
“Barbara’s extensive industry experience and track record of success will strengthen and drive our Starkey Italy team forward,” said Thorsten Quaas, Vice President European Sales at Starkey. “Starkey is setting the pace of innovation in the hearing industry, and Barbara joins at a pivotal moment as we experience strong growth driven by our teams’ dedication to product performance and innovation. Her proven leadership and dedication to delivering at the highest standards aligns with our commitment to excellence. Barbara will play a key role in strengthening our culture, empowering our teams, and positioning Starkey Italy for continued growth and long-term success”.
“Joining Starkey is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a company that continues to redefine what's possible in hearing care,” Barbara added. “I'm looking forward to working alongside our talented team and closely with our customers to create lasting value and continue growing together in the Italian market. I'm especially inspired by the opportunity to help more hearing care professionals bring innovative technology to the people whose lives can benefit from it most”.
Barbara’s appointment reinforces Starkey’s dedication as a hearing technology partner built for the future and a trusted partner that hearing healthcare professionals can consistently rely on. Barbara has spent more than two decades helping healthcare professionals thrive and grow and under her leadership at Starkey Italy, this commitment will continue through the delivery of the highest standards of service, exceptional levels of care, and unrivalled innovative technology that partners and patients can depend on.
About Starkey
Starkey is a leading global innovator in hearing technology and AI-powered hearing aids, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Since its founding by Bill Austin in 1967 and led today by Brandon Sawalich, Starkey has driven breakthroughs in unmatched sound clarity and machine learning and intelligent hearing technology. As the only American-owned hearing aid manufacturer, Starkey employs over 5,000 professionals across 29 facilities, delivering advanced hearing solutions to customers in 100+ markets worldwide. Explore our smart hearing devices and connected technologies at www.starkey.com.
