AMSTERDAM – June 4, 2025 – Firely, a pioneer in FHIR-based health IT solutions and one of the initiators of the HL7 FHIR standard, today announced a leadership transition. Founder and CEO Rien Wertheim will step down from his role at the end of 2025. Martine Berden, currently Chief Marketing Officer, will succeed him as Chief Executive Officer.
Effective immediately, Martine and Rien will serve as Co-CEOs to support a seamless transition and maintain strategic continuity.
A Legacy of Belief, Community, and Impact
Firely’s history is deeply intertwined with the evolution of FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) and Rien Wertheim has played a foundational role in its development and adoption.
As CEO of his former company, Furore, he was an early and vocal advocate for the standard, dedicating Furore’s people and resources to FHIR development in 2012—a time when the standard was just emerging.
That early bet would lead to the creation of FHIR DevDays, the international FHIR conference hosted by Firely and HL7 since 2014. Shortly after that came the establishment of Firely in 2015, with a singular focus on advancing FHIR adoption through open-source tools, education, consulting, and global community building.
“Firely has always stood for something bigger than itself—enabling better healthcare through better data,” said Rien Wertheim. “And under Martine’s leadership, I know that vision will only grow stronger. She brings clarity, drive, structure, and a deep commitment to real-world impact—both within Firely and across the wider healthcare ecosystem.”
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to build this company and contribute to something as meaningful as FHIR and I can’t think of a better person to carry it forward than Martine,” he continued.
The Next Chapter
As incoming CEO, Martine Berden brings a strategic and mission-driven mindset to the role. Since joining Firely in 2022, she has helped evolve the company’s voice, brand, and long-term direction.
Now, she steps into the role with a clear focus on enabling the next generation of healthcare interoperability and expanding Firely’s role as a trusted FHIR partner, open-source contributor, and advocate for smarter, more accessible healthcare data.
“It’s an incredible honor to lead Firely,” said Martine Berden. “Rien has built a company rooted in purpose and a team that care deeply about both the technology and the people it serves.”
While Martine sees herself as continuing the legacy Rien began, she also brings her own energy and vision to the role.
“I’m grateful for the path Rien has paved and I’m excited to shape Firely’s next chapter, working closely with our team, our partners, and the global FHIR community to move health data forward in meaningful ways.”
Ewout Kramer, Firely’s CTO and one of the original co-creators of the FHIR standard, also reflected on the moment:
“As we move into the next chapter of FHIR adoption, leadership like Martine’s is exactly what we need—someone who understands not just the technology, but also a deep understanding of how to grow this company and a fresh look on future cooperations and market trends. The future is in good hands.”
Moving Forward, Together
This transition marks the next chapter in Firely’s evolution, from a company that helped shape the foundations of FHIR to one that’s now helping lead its path forward.
With a deep-rooted commitment to open standards, community, and meaningful impact, Firely moves forward with renewed energy and the same clarity of purpose: enabling better healthcare by making health data work—openly, securely, and at scale.
Rien Wertheim will remain involved with Firely in a strategic advisory capacity and the wider FHIR community following his departure as CEO.