Verb Surgical CEO to Join NuVasive Board Of Directors

NuVasive Inc., a developer of spine technology, has appointed Scott Huennekens to the company’s Board of Directors, effective Oct. 1.
 
Huennekens has over 25 years of experience in the medical device industry, with particular expertise overseeing clinical advancement through R&D and technology-based initiatives. He currently serves as president, CEO, and board chairman of Verb Surgical, an independent startup company formed in 2015 by Google and Johnson & Johnson to develop surgical platforms including advanced surgical robotics, visualization, connectivity, data analytics and instrumentation. Prior to joining Verb Surgical, Huennekens was president, CEO, and a member of the board of Volcano Corporation, a company focused on diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for coronary and peripheral artery disease, which was acquired by Royal Philips for $1.2 billion in February 2015.
 
“Scott’s knowledge of robotics, data analytics and advanced surgical technologies is well suited for the strategic direction of NuVasive,” said Gregory T. Lucier, chairman and CEO of NuVasive. This expertise, coupled with his deep roots in managing successful medical device organizations, makes Scott a perfect complement to our Board of Directors.”
 
Prior to his current role and 13-year tenure at Volcano Corporation, Huennekens was president and CEO at Digirad Corporation from 1997 to 2002, where he led the startup through its first product commercialization of solid-state gamma cameras for the nuclear cardiology imaging market. Before Digirad, he held various management roles within medical device divisions of Baxter Healthcare from 1993 to 1997.
 
Huennekens earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Southern California, and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He is currently a board member of the Medical Device Manufacturer’s Association, and previously served as chairman.

“I’m passionate about products that have a true benefit to patients, and enabling surgeons to deliver the best care possible, so joining NuVasive’s board is a perfect fit,” said Huennekens. “I look forward to helping shape the direction of the company through my perspectives on advanced medical platforms and delivering even greater value to its shareholders.”
 
NuVasive Inc. is focused on transforming spine surgery with minimally disruptive, procedurally-integrated solutions designed to deliver reproducible and clinically-proven surgical outcomes. The company’s portfolio includes access instruments, implantable hardware, biologics, software systems for surgical planning, navigation and imaging solutions, magnetically adjustable implant systems for spine and orthopedics, and intraoperative monitoring service offerings. With over $1 billion in revenues, NuVasive has an approximate 2,400 person workforce in more than 40 countries serving surgeons, hospitals and patients.