ChoiceSpine Adds Two Members to Executive Team

ChoiceSpine LP is expanding its executive team. The company has hired Tom McLeer as senior executive vice president and Steve Ainsworth, Ph.D., as vice president of R&D.

McLeer will serve as an advisor to founders Rick Henson and Marty Altshuler, assisting with strategic planning and business development. He most recently was senior vice president of U.S. commercial operations for Alphatec Spine Inc., with responsibility for U.S. sales and marketing, research/development, and biologics. Prior to working at Alphatec, McLeer was chief marketing officer and general manager of spinal operations for Pioneer Surgical Technology. He also spent five years as vice president of sales and marketing for Archus Orthopedics and four years as vice president of marketing and business development for Spinal Concepts (acquired by Abbott for $170 million in 2003).

McLeer also has five patents, including those for an arthroplasty revision system, a crossbar spinal prosthesis, and spine stabilization systems.

Ainsworth was the third employee for TranS1 Inc., where he served as vice president of research and development throughout the Baxano acquisition. In early February, ChoiceSpine purchased Baxano’s VEO Lateral Access and Interbody System. He received his undergraduate degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., and both a graduate and doctorate degree from Clemson University in South Carolina.

Last August and September, Choice Spine received U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance for its Lancer Pedicle Screw System and the Thunderbolt Minimally Invasive Pedicle Screw System.

Based in Knoxville, Tenn., ChoiceSpine develops spinal implant products. The company was formed in 2006 after it acquired Orthotec, then a $40 million firm. It now holds the exclusive rights for the U.S. spine market, several patents and six specific spinal conditions.