04.04.08
Medical device industry veteran Jack Blair has been named chairman of the board for Active Implants Corporation (AIC), a Memphis, TN-based provider of polymer-based implants. The company is looking to capitalize on his vast experience as AIC looks to commercialize its first product, the TriboFit Hip System, which received a European CE Mark approval.
Blair, a past group president for Smith & Nephew and former chairman of the board of DJO, has been an active member of the AIC Board of Directors and an early investor since its inception in 2004. He currently serves on the boards of NuVasive, Inc., a spinal surgery company, and Buckman Lab- oratories, Inc., a privately held specialty chemicals company.
His comprehensive experience in the orthopedic market will come in handy as AIC prepares to raise additional capital for the commercialization initiative. The company raised more than $10 million when it closed a Series B preferred stock offering and senior convertible note and warrant offering in 2007.
“Jack Blair is a recognized industry expert and highly respected business leader who knows this company and the expanding orthopedic market opportunity. I know Jack will make even greater contributions in his new role as chairman at this important time in the evolution of our company,” said Stephen Bradshaw, AIC’s president and CEO.
Amiram Steinberg, founder, inventor and a major shareholder for AIC, stepped down as chairman in January after having served in that post since the company’s start in 2004. He will continue to serve as a director, inventor and technical advisor for the company.
Huntington, IN-based Shuttleworth, Inc., a global conveyor manufacturer, has hired Brian P. Kintigh and Daniel A. Snipes, Jr. to serve as controls engineers.
Kintigh will be responsible for the research, design and testing of automated conveyor systems for material handling. Prior to joining Shuttleworth, he worked for the Warsaw Coil Company. Kintigh graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology.
Snipes’ work will focus on generating electrical drawings, bills of materials, programmable control logic and trouble- shooting of automated conveyor systems for material handling. A US Navy veteran who also studied electrical engineering at Virginia Western, Snipes has more than 30 years’ experience in manufacturing controls engineering.
Privately held SpineVision, based in San Francisco, CA, has promoted Stephane Bette to the position of general manager of the company’s US operations.
Prior to his promotion, Bette spent the last year serving as vice president of SpineVision’s US operations and director of R&D. As one of the five co-founders of SpineVision, he began his career as the R&D project manager at the company’s Paris headquarters, where he helped develop most of SpineVision’s existing products. Earlier in his career, Bette spent nearly three years at the Paris branch of Medtronic’s Sofamor-Danek Group.
“Stephane Bette has spent the past two years in the US market establishing relationships with thought-leading spine surgeons and fortifying our infrastructure,” said Julian Mackenzie, CEO of SpineVision. “He will no doubt continue to play a crucial role as we further entrench SpineVision as not only a preeminent, but also a profitable, spine company.”
Eden Prairie, MN-based SurModics, Inc., a provider of surface modification and drug delivery technologies for products such as implants, has expanded its board with the addition of Robert C. Buhrmaster and Susan E. Night, bringing the total number of members to nine.
Buhrmaster is the retired chairman, president and CEO of Jostens, Inc. and also served in various roles at Corning, Inc. for 18 years. He currently serves on the boards of The Toro Company and Innovex, Inc.
Knight is vice president and chief financial officer at MTS Systems, Inc., a Minnesota-based global supplier of test systems and industrial position sensors. She previously served in various management and executive positions with Honeywell International for 24 years. She also sits on the boards of Plato Learning and The Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation.
“We are gratified with the addition of two new directors who bring extensive experience to our board,” commented Kendrick B. Melrose, chairman of the board. “We look forward to their contributions as SurModics continues its growth.”
Blair, a past group president for Smith & Nephew and former chairman of the board of DJO, has been an active member of the AIC Board of Directors and an early investor since its inception in 2004. He currently serves on the boards of NuVasive, Inc., a spinal surgery company, and Buckman Lab- oratories, Inc., a privately held specialty chemicals company.
His comprehensive experience in the orthopedic market will come in handy as AIC prepares to raise additional capital for the commercialization initiative. The company raised more than $10 million when it closed a Series B preferred stock offering and senior convertible note and warrant offering in 2007.
“Jack Blair is a recognized industry expert and highly respected business leader who knows this company and the expanding orthopedic market opportunity. I know Jack will make even greater contributions in his new role as chairman at this important time in the evolution of our company,” said Stephen Bradshaw, AIC’s president and CEO.
Amiram Steinberg, founder, inventor and a major shareholder for AIC, stepped down as chairman in January after having served in that post since the company’s start in 2004. He will continue to serve as a director, inventor and technical advisor for the company.
Shuttleworth Adds Two Controls Engineers to Staff
Huntington, IN-based Shuttleworth, Inc., a global conveyor manufacturer, has hired Brian P. Kintigh and Daniel A. Snipes, Jr. to serve as controls engineers.
Kintigh will be responsible for the research, design and testing of automated conveyor systems for material handling. Prior to joining Shuttleworth, he worked for the Warsaw Coil Company. Kintigh graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology.
Snipes’ work will focus on generating electrical drawings, bills of materials, programmable control logic and trouble- shooting of automated conveyor systems for material handling. A US Navy veteran who also studied electrical engineering at Virginia Western, Snipes has more than 30 years’ experience in manufacturing controls engineering.
SpineVision Promotes One of Its Own
Privately held SpineVision, based in San Francisco, CA, has promoted Stephane Bette to the position of general manager of the company’s US operations.
Prior to his promotion, Bette spent the last year serving as vice president of SpineVision’s US operations and director of R&D. As one of the five co-founders of SpineVision, he began his career as the R&D project manager at the company’s Paris headquarters, where he helped develop most of SpineVision’s existing products. Earlier in his career, Bette spent nearly three years at the Paris branch of Medtronic’s Sofamor-Danek Group.
“Stephane Bette has spent the past two years in the US market establishing relationships with thought-leading spine surgeons and fortifying our infrastructure,” said Julian Mackenzie, CEO of SpineVision. “He will no doubt continue to play a crucial role as we further entrench SpineVision as not only a preeminent, but also a profitable, spine company.”
SurModics Adds Two to Its Board of Directors
Eden Prairie, MN-based SurModics, Inc., a provider of surface modification and drug delivery technologies for products such as implants, has expanded its board with the addition of Robert C. Buhrmaster and Susan E. Night, bringing the total number of members to nine.
Buhrmaster is the retired chairman, president and CEO of Jostens, Inc. and also served in various roles at Corning, Inc. for 18 years. He currently serves on the boards of The Toro Company and Innovex, Inc.
Knight is vice president and chief financial officer at MTS Systems, Inc., a Minnesota-based global supplier of test systems and industrial position sensors. She previously served in various management and executive positions with Honeywell International for 24 years. She also sits on the boards of Plato Learning and The Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation.
“We are gratified with the addition of two new directors who bring extensive experience to our board,” commented Kendrick B. Melrose, chairman of the board. “We look forward to their contributions as SurModics continues its growth.”