New CEO to lead expansion of Sarasota health tech company

A Sarasota company specializing in remote cardiac monitoring and data management has named a new leader as it plans for growth. PaceMate appointed JR Finkelmeier the CEO as the business aims for “significant commercial expansion,” according to a statement.

Finkelmeier has been the chief commercial officer for PaceMate since 2024, following years leading the ambulatory monitoring division for Philips, a segment that cost hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a statement. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.

PaceMate's mission is to transform cardiac data management across health care systems, including hospitals, health care providers, clinics and physicians, according to a statement. Its cloud-based system enables care teams to manage cardiac device patients through one platform that integrates with electronic health records and medical device vendors.

The company grew in 2024 through the acquisition of Medtronic’s PaceArt Optima system, an on-premise solution that complements the company’s cloud-based model. The acquisition expanded PaceMate’s reach from 200 to 1,200 clinics worldwide.

Now PaceMate has 2 million patients under management and is used by systems such as Duke Health and Advocate Health.

“PaceMate realized before anyone else that, with complex cardiac data spread across disparate systems, data gathering is at odds with delivering the best patient care. The company spent a decade building the ideal platform to solve this challenge,” Finkelmeier says in the statement. “PaceMate’s original mission to improve outcomes through real-time cardiac monitoring is more vital now than ever. I look forward to leading the company forward as it delivers connected cardiac care to more providers and patients around the world.”

Finkelmeier’s immediate priorities will include meeting the demand for the company's core platform as health care systems increasingly look to migrate their monitoring programs to the cloud and continuing to invest in AI tech-enabled clinical capabilities and certified cardiac expertise, according to a statement. He will focus on operational readiness and commercial growth.

Tripp Higgins, who was the company’s founding CEO, has transitioned to become chair of the board of directors and will continue to shape PaceMate’s strategy.