RTI Biologics Names Duo to Vice President Posts

Blakely

Blakely has joined RTI as vice president of sports medicine marketing. Before joining RTI, Blakely spent more than five years at Warsaw, Ind.-based Zimmer Inc., where she held various positions, including director of relationship management and surgeon communications, director of U.S. re-gional marketing for hips, and dir-ector of global marketing for hips. Zi-mmer is a manufacturer of reconstructive, spinal and trauma devices.

Prior to Zimmer, Blakely managed the hip portfolio at Gainsville, Fla.-bas-ed Exactech Inc., which manufactures implants and surgical instrumentation. Previously, Blakely worked in sales and product management at Smith & Nephew, a global research, development and manufacturing firm with U.S. offices in Massachusetts and Tennessee.

“Christie’s experience in marketing, product development and surgeon relationships will be very valuable to our sports medicine franchise,” said Brian K. Hutchison, RTI Biologics’ chairman and CEO. “We are committed to growing our sports medicine business to be the largest segment in the company, and we are investing re-sources accordingly.”

LaPrade

LaPrade was hired as RTI’s vice president of surgical specialties, overseeing business and product development. He has more than 16 years experience in sales and marketing for pharmaceutical, medical equipment and medical device companies such as Tyco Healthcare (now Covidien) in Princeton, N.J.; Natick, Mass.-based Boston Scientific Corp.; and most recently, Gambro Renal Products in Lakewood, Colo.

“Mike’s expertise in assessing competitive markets and new business opportunities, as well as managing product development, will be key for our fast-growing surgical specialties business,” Hutchison said.

RTI Biologics develops sterile biological implants for surgeries.

Chief Financial Officer Leaving TranS1

Michael Luetkemeyer, chief financial officer for TranS1 Inc., is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.

The company, based in Wilming-ton, N.C., has begun searching for his replacement. Luetkemeyer will serve as a consultant to the firm during the search.

Before he came to TranS1 in April 2007, Luetkemeyer was employed by San Francisco, Calif.-based Micromuse Inc., a network management software provider (purchased by IBM in 2006). He held many jobs at Micromuse, including CFO, interim CEO, and senior vice president. Luetkemeyer also served on the board of directors from January 2003 to February 2005.

Prior to joining Micromuse, Luet-kemeyer was CFO of Aprisma Man-agement Technologies in Portsmouth, N.H., a network management software provider. He also has held senior finance positions at GE Aerospace, GE Semiconductor and GE Plastics for more than 10 years.

“He [Luetkemeyer] has been a valued business partner and an important part of the TranS1 team for the past three years, playing a significant role in executing our initial public offering, building the finance team and increasing our visibility in the investment community,” said Rick Randall, CEO.

TranS1 develops minimally invasive surgical procedures for the spine.

VertiFlex Inc. Appoints VP, Global Clinical Research

VertiFlex Inc., a privately held manufacturer of minimally invasive and motion preserving technologies for spinal disorders, has appointed William H. Duffell, Ph.D., as vice president of global clinical research.

Duffell will oversee the Superion Interspinous Spacer IDE pivotal trial, and other clinical development strategies outside the United States. The Superion Interspinous Spacer was designed to relieve pain commonly associated with spinal stenosis, acc-ording to the firm.

Duffell most recently served as senior vice president of global government affairs and global regulatory and quality assurance with Gambro AB, a Swedish private equity-owned firm that develops and markets medical devices, biologics and pharmaceuticals for hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and cell therapy.

Previously, Duffell worked for Houston, Texas-based Cyberonics, a manufacturer of implantable medical devices for the treatment of epilepsy and other neurological disorders. There, he served as vice president of clinical and regulatory affairs.

“Bill’s considerable global experience will aid us in continuing to compile Superion clinical data, which already has demonstrated success in multiple series completed by international investigators,” said Earl R. Fender, VertiFlex president and CEO.

VertiFlex is headquartered in San Clemente, Calif.

Christy Takes Top Spot at SpineMatrix

William Christy has been named CEO of SpineMatrix Inc., an Akron, Ohio-based medical technology company specializing in advanced spinal diagnostics.

He joins the company after serving most recently as president and CEO of London, England-based AOI Medical, a developer of devices for osteoporotic spine disorders.

Previously, Christy served as founder and CEO of Orth-eon Medical LLC in Columbus, Ohio, a company that focused on orthopedic tendon re-pair; founder and CEO of ESD Med-ical LLC, a developer of tubal ligation products that was acquired by U.S. Surgical Corp.; and founder and CEO of Synergistic Medical Technologies Inc., a laparoscopic product company that was acquired by Cincinatti, Ohio-headquartered Ethicon Endo-Surgery. He also holds more than 20 patents.

“Bill’s extensive professional experience in the medical industry and as an entrepreneur is the perfect fit for our expansion objectives,” said Jeff Krauss, SpineMatrix board chairman. “He knows exactly the right steps in guiding the company through its expanded launch in the marketplace and will shepherd us through this crucial growth phase.”

Pioneer Surgical Names Chief Technology Officer

Pioneer Surgical Technology Inc. has tapped Qibin “Chip” Bao, Ph.D., as chief technology officer of the firm.

Since joining Marquette, Mich.-based Pioneer Surgical in 2003, Bao has served as vice president of spine development and led the development of PEEK-on-PEEK (polyetheretherketone) technology for spinal motion preservation.

Before joining Pioneer Surgical, Bao was vice president of research and development for Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Disc Dynamics. He held a similar role with Advanced Bio-Surfaces in Minnetonka, Minn.

Pioneer Surgical manufactures orthopedic and spine systems.

ulrich Appoints President, CEO for U.S. Subsidiary

ulrich medical has appointed Hans Stover as president and CEO of its American subsidiary (ulrich medical USA), based in St. Louis, Mo.

Stover brings more than 25 years of medical device experience to the spinal implant technology company, including experience as president and CEO of other medical device firms. He replaces Merle Symes, who had served as CEO of ulrich medical USA since January 2007. Symes rejoined his consulting practice. ulrich medical is based in Ulm, Germany.

Vulcanium Metals Appoints European Business Development Manager

Vulcanium Metals International, a titanium distributor and processor based in Northbrook, Ill., has named Thomas Ziert as European business development manager.

Since 1997, Ziert has worked intitanium sales for medical, aerospace and industrial applications, managing accounts and negotiating international marketing plans for various companies.