The Waltham, Massachusetts-based surgical robot developer established the new role as it prepares for its next phase of growth. This role aims to fortify organizational alignment and focus on the company’s long-term needs and objectives.
Clark reports to CEO Adam Sachs and assumes responsibility for the day-to-day oversight of core business functions. Those include product development, operations, commercial strategy, clinical, regulatory and quality affairs and human resources.
The appointment comes as Vicarious prepares to finalize Version 1.0 of its surgical robotic system.
“We are thrilled to announce Randy’s addition to the Vicarious Surgical team, especially during this pivotal phase for the company as we approach the finalization of the V1.0 system this fall,” Sachs said in a news release. “With decades of cross-functional experience in leading medical device organizations, Randy brings a wealth of expertise, particularly within manufacturing and supply chain.
“His well-established track record of successfully guiding organizations from development stage to commercial launch is a testament to his capabilities, and we anticipate his expertise and leadership will play a crucial role in shaping our future success.”
More about the company’s new president
Clark brings more than 20 years of experience in the medical device industry. His track record spans development, manufacturing and commercialization for a range of medical device solutions.
Most recently, Clark served as global president of the health solutions unit at Flex, a supply chain, manufacturing and design provider. Before Flex, he spent 15 years at Olympus, holding various roles of increasing responsibility. Ultimately, he served as president and a member of the board of directors, overseeing P&L management for the Americas region.
“Vicarious Surgical has pioneered a revolutionary method for minimally invasive surgery,” Clark said. “I am confident that this innovation will greatly benefit our hospital system and surgeon partners, and, above all, the patients. I am excited about participating in this transformative journey and playing a role in turning Vicarious Surgical’s vision and mission into tangible reality.”
More about where Vicarious Surgical currently stands
In April, Vicarious completed a design freeze for its Version 1.0 (V1.0) surgical robotic system. The company said in its second-quarter earnings results that it planned for integration and the build of system units for this fall. Having received some input from the FDA, Vicarious Surgical had expectations to begin first-in-human trials in mid-2024. The company then planned to file for de novo clearance in fiscal 2025.
However, in the company’s third-quarter earnings results, Sachs, the company’s co-founder, outlined a new timeline for V1.0. The company now expects to complete the build and integration in fall 2024. It earmarked early- to mid-2026 for an FDA de novo submission.
Nearly a year ago, Vicarious Surgical announced that it planned to reduce its workforce by about 14%. It cited reducing cash burn and boosting R&D spending as the drivers behind the decision.
In November, Sachs said Vicarious made further “pretty significant cuts” to both its team and external spending. Its first layoffs targeted non-R&D functions, he said, but the latest significantly impacted R&D functions and outsourced R&D spending.
Sachs said at the time that he didn’t have the exact numbers in front of him but noted that Vicarious began 2023 with around 230 employees and that number had shrunk to 130.
