PPD CEO David Grange to retire | Personnel moves

February 9, 2011 By MassDevice staff Leave a Comment

Here’s the latest personnel changes from medical device, diagnostics and life science companies around the nation. For more news on recent hirings and firings in the industry, check out MassDevice’s compilation of the latest personnel moves.

PPD CEO David Grange to retire
Pharmaceutical Product Development Inc. (NSDQ:PPDI) announced that David Grange plans to retire as CEO and a member of the company’s board of directors. Grange joined PPD’s board in 2003 and served with distinction as an independent director until mid-2009 when he became CEO. Grange’s retirement will be effective May 18, 2011, the date of the company’s annual shareholder meeting. The board of directors has started the succession planning process and will promptly initiate a search internally and externally for a successor. Grange will assist in the transition of his duties during the remainder of his tenure as CEO and will continue to provide assistance to the company on transition and other matters under a consulting agreement for the balance of 2011. After his retirement and until a new CEO is in place, his duties will be handled by Dr. Eshelman and other members of PPD’s management team.
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Natus taps John Buhler for COO
Natus Medical Inc. (NSDQ:BABY) appointed of John Buhler as president and COO of the company. Over his 28 year career, Buhler has overseen and directed rapidly growing enterprises both big and small within the medical device industry, recently as president and CEO of SenoRx Inc. (NSDQ:SENO) prior to its acquisition in July 2010. His experience includes senior management positions at General Electric, last serving as VP and GM of GE’s $500 million Ultrasound Performance Technologies Division covering China and Asia; president and CEO of Ultrasonix Medical Corp. in Canada; and VP of operations for Diasonics Inc.
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Response Genetics Inc. appoints Kathleen Danenberg president
Response Genetics Inc. (NSDQ:RGDX), a company focused on the development and commercialization of molecular diagnostic tests for cancer, announced the addition of Christine Meda as the company’s president. Kathleen Danenberg, who held this position previously, will continue to act as CEO of the company. In her role, Ms. Meda will be responsible for helping in the execution of the company’s strategy and operations on a day-to-day basis and, with her unique expertise in cancer diagnostics, leading the company in new areas of the market, such as the development of companion diagnostics.
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ConvaTec announces new leader ship appointments
ConvaTec, a developer and marketer of innovative medical technologies for community and hospital care, appointed several executives to new positions within the company. Nino Pionati has been appointed president, Intercontinental in a newly aligned region that will include Asia Pacific, Latin America and Canada. These markets continue to be a strategic focus for growth for the company. He will continue as a member of the Executive Committee and will serve as the Executive Sponsor for the company emerging markets growth initiatives. Jorgen Hansen has been appointed Senior Vice president, Global Marketing and Business Development. In his role, Hansen will be responsible for expanding access to, and commercialization of, critical innovations to drive growth. Hansen will serve as a new member of the Executive Committee. Robbie Heginbotham has been named interim Vice president, Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain following the departure of Cheryl Capps. In this role he will focus on developing best-in-class quality and service initiatives while maximizing operational effectiveness of the global manufacturing process and network. Heginbotham will act as an interim member of the Executive Committee.
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ReVision Optics appoints John Kilcoyne president and CEO
ReVision Optics Inc. a leading research and development company specializing in implantable microlens technology to treat presbyopia, announced the appointment of John T. Kilcoyne as Chief Executive Officer and president. Kilcoyne will succeed J. Randy Alexander. Alexander will assume the role of chairman of the board. Kilcoyne has more than 29 years of experience in the medical device market. Most recently he served as chairman and CEO of Micrus Endovascular Corporation, until its sale to Johnson & Johnson in September 2010. Kilcoyne also previously served as president and Chief Executive Officer of Solace Therapeutics from 2002 to 2004 and Endonetics from 1997 until its acquisition by Medtronic in December 2001.
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BREAKING: Medtronic wins FDA approval for Micra AV
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) has won FDA approval for its Micra AV — greatly expanding the number of people who could potentially benefit from leadless pacemaker technology. The medical device giant plans to start offering the Micra AV in a limited number of implanting centers in the coming weeks, with a full launch expected in the spring. FDA… […]
FDA reclassifies some medical image analyzers
The FDA today imposed stricter regulations on certain radiological medical image analyzers, reclassifying them from Class III to Class II. Affected products include computer-assisted detection (CADe) devices for breast cancer mammography, breast-lesion ultrasound, and lung-nodule and dental-caries radiography, the agency said. It defines these devices as those intended to identify, mark, highlight, or in any… […]
Medline Industries temporarily halts EtO sterilization at Illinois plant
This article has been updated with a comment from Medela. Medline Industries has temporarily closed its Waukegan, Ill., medical device sterilization operation to install nearly $10 million in emissions upgrades. The privately owned company uses the carcinogenic gas ethylene oxide (EtO) to sterilize its own and other companies’ devices at the plant. Medline did not… […]
Mojo Vision developing ‘smart’ contact lens
Mojo Vision is working with the FDA to develop a smart contact lens to help people with low vision. The lens overlays real-time contrast and lighting enhancements with zoom functionality and recently won FDA breakthrough device designation. “Receiving the Breakthrough Device Designation is a significant step in our research and development process. We look forward to… […]
FDA to EPA: Leave us out of your ethylene oxide rule
This article has been updated with comments from the FDA. The FDA has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to leave the FDA out of its proposal for stricter regulation of ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions, and the EPA complied. In an interagency comment on the EPA’s proposed rule governing commercial EtO users — which includes medical… […]
Clippart debuts stepper-controlled flow valve
Clippard recently launched a new stepper-controlled proportional valve for precision flow control. The Eclipse valve uses the industry’s most robust and powerful miniature linear actuator, according to Cincinnati-based Clippard. The patent-pending Eclipse is designed for liquid and gas delivery, medical, analytical and industrial automation requiring ultra-fine resolution and repeatability. The design also allows for custom… […]
Supporting regulatory affairs departments to address clinical requirements under new MDR
By Dietmar Falke and Jaap Laufer, Emergo Group The May 25, 2020 MDR deadline is approaching rapidly, and by now many medical device manufacturers are aware that the MDR requires the proactive collection of post-marketing clinical follow-up (PMCF) data. Get the full story here at the Emergo Group’s blog. The opinions expressed in this blog… […]
5 tips to raise funding for your medical device
Securing funding can be a long and tedious process, and medical device businesses must work to position themselves as especially attractive to potential investors to maximize success and accelerate the fundraising process. Jon Speer, Greenlight Guru According to Alejandro Cremades, author of The Art of Startup Fundraising, it can take from six to nine months… […]
FDA recognizes latest ISO 14971 as medical device consensus standard
By Mark Leimbeck and Stewart Eisenhart, Emergo Group The US Food and Drug Administration has granted Recognized Consensus Standard status to the third edition of the ISO 14071 risk management standard for medical devices and IVD products. Get the full story here at the Emergo Group’s blog. The opinions expressed in this blog post are… […]
Synaptive Medical updates Modus V surgical microscope
Synaptive Medical announced that its U.S. and Canadian Modus V robotic digital microscope now includes updates such as additional 3D visualization and voice-activated control. The Modus V is a robotically controlled digital microscope used as part of Synaptive’s BrightMatter surgical suite designed for less invasive, patient-specific approaches in complex cranial procedures. The Modus V provides similar… […]
New machine can preserve donor livers for 1 week
Researchers in Switzerland have built a perfusion machine that can preserve human livers for transplantation for a week or more, potentially slashing the number of donor livers that must be discarded due to time-related deterioration. Existing perfusion technology can preserve a donor liver for up to 24 hours. The team of surgeons, biologists and engineers… […]