Bioventus Expands Executive Team by Two

Durham, N.C.-based Bioventus LLC, an orthobiologics company, has named Jeanne Forneris its new vice president of strategy and general counsel, as well as Thomas Umbel its new vice president of business development.

Forneris has been a member of the Bioventus executive team since the company’s inception in 2012, serving as vice president of business development and general counsel. She will continue to report to CEO Tony Bihl and be responsible for leading the strategic planning process, focusing on developing a detailed path to the successful achievement of the company’s mission to be a global leader in orthobiologics. Forneris will also be responsible for all of the ethics and compliance functions at Bioventus.

Umbel brings more than 30 years of senior executive management experience in medical device and diagnostic companies that range from small startups to major corporations. He will be charged with identifying new products and solutions to expand the Bioventus Active Healing Therapies and Bioventus Surgical product offerings. Umbel also will report to Bihl.

“We are excited to add Tom to lead business development for Bioventus. His industry experience and contacts will enhance an already strong business development team,” said Bihl. “Jeanne’s presence on the executive team has been invaluable for Bioventus and her new role will allow the company to enjoy greater benefit of her strategic insights. As Bioventus approaches its third anniversary, we continue to strengthen and grow in all aspects of our business, including senior leadership.”

Forneris has more than 30 years of legal and strategic experience at leading medtech companies and top-tier law firms. Prior to joining Bioventus, she served as senior vice president and general counsel for American Medical Systems Holdings where she led the legal, compliance and healthcare affairs teams. Prior to joining American Medical Systems, Forneris was vice president of strategic investments for Medtronic Inc. (now Medtronic plc), leading the technology and intellectual property investment and acquisition strategies in support of its Cardiac Rhythm Management business unit. For eight years she served as vice president and senior counsel for Medtronic. She also has served as vice president and general counsel for a large construction company and was a private practice attorney. Forneris received her law degree from the University of Minnesota, and a bachelor’s degree cum laude in political science and history from Macalester College.

Umbel most recently served as president and chief operating officer of OncoGenesis. Prior to that, he spent more than 15 years with Hologic Inc., first as president of that company’s Direct Radiography business, later as its vice president of sales, and finally as its group senior vice president of development and marketing. At Hologic, Umbel led more than 20 acquisitions of products and businesses to build the portfolio of healthcare solutions that Hologic currently offers. Earlier in his career, he held various leadership positions within Sterling Diagnostic Imaging and DuPont de Nemours Inc. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Grove City College.