Osteotech is expanding its senior management team.

Osteotech Inc., an Eatontown, N.J.-based manufacturer of biologic products for regenerative healing, has appointed two experienced industry leaders to new senior management positions.

Michael P. McCarthy has joined the company as senior vice president of sales, a position that requires him to implement and manage the company’s sales model. He most recently served as chief business development officer for Pipeline Biomedical Holdings LLC, a medical products and technology development company based in Pars-ippany, N.J.

“We believe that Michael’s successful track record of managing sales teams and distributor networks, as well as his experience in bringing to market novel biologics and medical technology, will prove valuable as we further execute our sales strategy,” said Sam Owusu-Akyaw, Osteotech president and COO. Osteotech has a variety of new products in development, including a MagniFuse Bone Graft and PlexurBiocomposites.

Robert C. Cohen, the new senior vice president of tissue engineering, will spearhead the company’s efforts to turn Osteotech’s investments in technology-based therapies into marketable products. In addition, he will manage direct relationships with surgeon customers. Like his new colleague, Cohen comes to Osteotech from Pipeline Biomedical, where he served as chief technology officer and oversaw technical new product due diligence, research and development, regulatory, clinical affairs and quality assurance.

“Robert’s 25 years of experience bringing innovative new products to market in the orthopedic device and related orthopedic biologics industries will be instrumental as we continue to develop and invest in new procedure-driven products,” Owusu-Akyaw said.

Prior to his role at Pipeline Biomedical, McCarthy served as president and CEO of Endius Inc., a minimally invasive surgical spine device company based in Plainville, Mass. He also served as global vice president of sales and marketing for Implex Corp., a reconstructive, spinal, trauma and sports medicine developer purchased five years ago by Zimmer Holdings Inc. Before he joined Implex, McCarthy worked as a principal for Clearwater, Fla.-based Oxford Medical Inc., an independent sales distribution organization for the Johnson & Johnson orthopedic product portfolio.
Cohen has spent the past 25 years in the medical technology industry with a focus on product development for orthopedic devices and related biologics. Prior to his role at Pipeline Biomedical, Cohen served as president of Zimmer Spine Inc., where he was responsible for product development, marketing and sales. He also served as general manager/vice president of research and development at Zimmer Trabecular Metal Technology Inc., an Allendale, N.J.-based company focused on orthopedic reconstructive prosthetic and spinal implant systems, bone replacements and musculoskeletal research.

MediQuip Names Board Member to Chairman Post

Access MediQuip LLC, a provider of outsourced management solutions to the implantable device and healthcare industries, has named board member Steve Cosler as chairman.

The Houston, Texas-based company announced the appointment after its second consecutive year of revenue growth exceeding 40 percent.

Cosler was formerly president and CEO of Priority Healthcare Corp. in Florida, a specialty pharmacy company acquired by Express Scripts in 2005.

He currently serves as an operating partner with Water Street Health-care Partners, a Chicago, Ill.-based private equity firm focused on the healthcare industry. The firm is a majority investor in Access MediQuip.

Since partnering with Water Street, Access MediQuip has expanded its services to healthcare facilities, device manufacturers and payers throughout the United States to double its sales over the past three years, according to a statement by the company.

“Steve has been a key contributor to Access MediQuip’s tremendous growth,” said Jim Connelly, former chairman of Access MediQuip and a partner with Water Street. “His expertise in specialty health care services has helped Access MediQuip successfully expand its business to help manufacturers, payers and prov-iders effectively manage implantable medical devices and ultimately benefit the patients who need them. Steve will continue to work closely with the management team to shape the company’s strategic direction and identify new ways to drive greater value for customers in the future.”

Also joining Access MediQuip’s board of directors is Steve Shulman, the chairman and former CEO of Magellan Health Services Inc., a leading specialty healthcare management organization. A 30-year industry veteran, Shulman, 56, has held leadership positions with the nation’s largest managed care health plans, including Prudential Healthcare, CIGNA and Kaiser Permanente. He founded and served as chairman and CEO of Internet Healthcare Group, an Avon, Conn.-based internet and e-health holding company, and co-founded Value Health Inc., a provider of specialty managed care benefit programs that was later bought by Columbia/HCA.
“Steve Shulman is another strong addition to the team of executives who serve on our board,” said Connelly. “His years of experience, both as a healthplan executive and as a provider of health services, will be extremely beneficial to Access MediQuip as the company continues to build on its leadership position in the medical device industry.”

Sandvik Hires Account Manager for Europe

Sandvik, a Swedish high-technology engineering group, has appointed Sam Heatley as account manager overseeing Europe to handle the growth of machining and finishing capabilities through the acquisition of specialist orthopedic manufacturing expertise.

Heatley is a medical device sales professional who brings a sound understanding of the medical sector to the position along with commercial awareness of customers’ needs and the challenges they face in today’s environment, according to a statement by the company.

“We’re delighted to welcome Sam on board,” said Bob Bruce, sales and marketing director at Sandvik. “With his successful track record of working with OEMs, he will further enhance the company’s understanding of our customers’ needs, so we in turn can continue to help them meet their goals.”

Before joining Sandvik, Heatley worked for a medical technology company that specializes in a wide range of biodegradable implants for orthopedic, spinal and maxillio-facial surgery.

A statement from Sandvik said Heatley used his “forward thinking” to help customers develop new products and make his former employer more competitive.

Zimmer Holdings Appoints Director

Zimmer Holdings Inc. has appointed Marc N. Casper, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., to its board of directors.
Prior to being named chief operating officer, Casper served as president of Thermo Fisher’s Analytical Technologies businesses following the merger of Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific in 2006.

He held various executive positions since joining Thermo Electron in 2001.
Previously, Casper served as president, CEO and a director of Kendro Laboratory Products. He also served as president of the Americas for Dade Behring Inc., a clinical diagnostics company based in Germany.

Casper currently also serves on the board of The Advisory Board Company in Washington, D.C., a healthcare best practices research and consulting organization.
“Marc’s record of achievement combines very successful experiences both in operations and in strategy development and we are looking forward to his contributions,” said John L. McGoldrick, chairman of the board of directors.

Zimmer designs, develops, manufactures and markets orthopedic reconstructive, spinal and trauma devices, dental implants, and related surgical products. Zimmer has operations in more than 25 countries around the world.