The Minneapolis-based company — developer of the implantable Barostim neuromodulation device for treating heart failure symptoms — has appointed Robert John as its chief revenue officer, effective June 27. John was most recently divisional VP and GM of Cardiac Rhythm Management EMEA at Abbott.
The move comes about a month after CVRx brought on a new chief medical officer — Dr. Philip Adamson, previously CMO of Abbott’s Heart Failure Division. The company in May also hired Bonnie Handke — a 25-year Medtronic veteran — as its SVP of patient access, reimbursement, and healthcare economics. Plus, Jennifer Englund, previously SVP of scientific affairs at robot-assisted neurosurgery company Monteris Medical, became CVRx’s SVP of global clinical affairs.
Recruiting new executive talent is part of CVRx’s strategy to expand the adoption of Barostim therapy. The company is projecting $50–53 million in revenue this year, 27–35% more than last year.
In a news release, CVRx CEO Kevin Hykes described John as well-known and respected within the heart failure community, with extensive experience building global sales organizations, launching novel heart failure therapies, and delivering results. “He will be invaluable as we accelerate our commercial momentum,” said Hykes, who joined CVRx in February. (He previously was CEO at Augmedics and Bardy Diagnostics.)
John has over 25 years of medtech sales leadership experience — 16 of them spent at St. Jude Medical and then at Abbott after it acquired St. Jude Medical for $25 billion in 2017. He started out his career with commercial roles at Medtronic, Guidant and Pfizer.
“Throughout my career, I have been passionate about bringing innovative therapies to market that can significantly improve patient outcomes,” John said. “CVRx’s Barostim therapy is a truly revolutionary technology with the potential to transform the treatment of heart failure. I look forward to working with the talented CVRx team to make this groundbreaking therapy available to more patients and drive the next phase of the company’s growth.”
