Ekdahl fills a void left by former president David Floyd, who resigned from the position in March amid swirling concerns and massive expenses over a recall of the company’s ASR hip replacement device. Floyd, president of the unit since 2007, left his post at the end of March to “pursue interests outside the company,” according to a spokeswoman who declined to be more specific.
DePuy recalled its ASR XL Acetabular hip system in August 2010 after researchers found that 13 percent of patients needed a repeat operation, or “revision surgery,” to fix problems with the implant.
The company took a $280 million charge in the fourth quarter to pay for the recall. The charge, however, may be just a fraction of the recall’s total cost: DePuy faces more than 500 lawsuits in state and federal courts from patients who have had the hip implants.
Ekdahl’s career with DePuy and Johnson & Johnson spans more than 20 years, where he has worked in areas includingorthopaedics, trauma, sports medicine, neurosciences and spine. Prior to his appointment as president of DePuy Orthopaedics, he was franchise vice president, DePuy Europe, Middle East and Africa. He also has held positions in sales, marketing and distribution in the United States, Canada and abroad.
Headquartered in Warsaw, Ind., DePuy provides treatments and solutions for orthopaedics, spinal care, sports medicine and neuroscience.
DeVivo Out as Smith & Nephew Restructures
Joseph M. DeVivo, president of Smith & Nephew’s Orthopaedic Reconstruction division, left the company on Aug. 5. The news comes shortly after the companyannounced the combination of its Memphis, Tenn.-based orthopedic unit and Andover, Mass.-based endoscopy unit. Mike Frazzette, president of the Endoscopy unit, will lead the new division, which will be known as Advanced Surgical Devices.
DeVivo joined the company in June 2006, armed with 18 years of marketing, development, sales, operations and executive leadership experience. Prior to joining Smith & Nephew, he served as president and CEO of Fremont, Calif.-based RITA Medical Systems Inc., a publicly traded developer, manufacturer and marketer of ablation devices.
DeVivo didn’t divulge a reason for his abrupt departure, saying in an email, “There’s nothing to tell, aside from me leaving Smith & Nephew.”
In addition to his position at Smith & Nephew, DeVivo has served as chairman of the Greater Memphis Chamber since November 2010; it is not yet clear whether he will retain this post. Chamber president and CEO John Moore said its executive committee will meet soon to discuss the matter.
Smith & Nephew spokesman Andrew Burns said Memphis-based jobs will not immediately be affected by the merger of the two units.
“(The two divisions) serve the same customers and the same patients in many cases, and we’ll continue to do so,” company spokesperson Burns said. “We have no plans for this to have [an] impact beyond more customer focus.”
Smith & Nephew’s corporate headquarters are in London, England.
A New CEO for Orthofix
Orthofix International N.V. has promoted Robert Vaters, chief operating officer (COO), to president and CEO. Vaters replaces Alan Milinazzo, whose last official day was Aug. 1. Milinazzo will retain his seat on the board.
Vaters was named COO in January after serving less than three years as chief financial officer (CFO).
“Since joining Orthofix as CFO in 2008, Bob has delivered measurable business value in our key business drivers, proving himself a tireless worker and leader through a series of increasingly challenging and successful assignments,” said Jim Gero, Orthofix board chairman. “The board believes Bob is the right person to lead our company during this next phase of our growth and we’re excited that he has accepted the position of president and CEO.”
Vaters previously served as general partner and co-founder of Med Opportunity Partners LLC, a Greenwich, Conn.-based private equity firm.
“I look forward to working with [the board] to deliver value for our employees, shareholders and business partners,” Vaters said. “This is an exciting time for Orthofix as we work together to maximize the potential of this organization.”
The change in executive management comes six months after a December 2010 announcement that Lewisville, Texas-based Orthofix would cut an unspecified number of jobs and restructure the company to save up to $7 million annually.
Orthofix underwent a similar internal reshuffling two years ago when it moved its Blackstone subsidiary operations out of New Jersey and Massachusetts to Texas.
Orchid Names New Quality and Regulatory Manager
Orchid Orthopedic Solutions has appointed John Randolph as quality and regulatory services manager. Randolph has quality and regulatory experience in large and small companies.
“In addition to supporting our customers’ needs, over time I believe John will be able to contribute more broadly to Orchid’s internal improvement initiatives,” said Steve Maguire, general manager.
Orchid Orthopedic Solutions is based in Holt, Mich.
DJO Global Appoints New Chief Executive
DJO Global, Inc. has appointed Michael P. Mogul as CEO to replace Les Cross, who assumed the role of board chairman. Mogul’s first official day at the Vista, Calif.-based orthopedic device manufacturer was June 13.
“I am extremely pleased that Mike is joining DJO,” Cross said. “Mike’s global sales and marketing experience combined with his proven track record of successfully accelerating revenue growth will help take DJO to the next level of performance.”
Mogul, who previously served as group president of orthopedics at Stryker Corp., has 22 years of sales and marketing experience. “I am honored to join the leadership team at DJO and looking forward to helping them grow the company in new and existing markets,” Mogul said.
“We are very pleased to have attracted such a well-qualified leader with a strong culture of achievement and I am confident Mike will strengthen DJO’s global market position,” Cross said.
Small Bone Innovations Expands Sales Team
Small Bone Innovations (SBi) has appointed Jack “Jay” Farris as national sales director for North America. He will report to Anthony G. Viscogliosi, chairman and CEO, and have direct responsibility for sales of the small bones and joints portfolio in North America, including its S.T.A.R. (Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement) system.
“Jay pioneered a strategy and developed a team at [Medical Alliance Inc.] and its successor companies that helped spur rapid sales growth among hospital purchasing authorities. His experience and drive will be invaluable in building SBi’s sales organization as we enter the next phase of the S.T.A.R. ankle program and consolidate our market leadership in upper and lower limb technologies,” Viscogliosi said.
Based in Morrisville, Pa., SBi was founded by New York, N.Y.-headquartered Viscogliosi Brothers LLC, a venture capital and merchant banking firm for the orthopedic industry. Its portfolio of companies includes Cortek Inc. of Dedham, Mass.; Alliance Medical Corporation of Phoenix, Ariz.;, Biorthex Inc. of Montreal, (Quebec) Canada; and Twin Star Medical, based in Minneapolis, Minn. The company’s worldwide sales grew 27 percent in 2010, with North American sales spiking 33 percent.
IMDS Executive Retires
IMDS (Innovative Medical Device Solutions) announced that Harold Linville, chief business development officer, is retiring after 33 years with the company. He will remain board chairman.
Linville led the company through many changes over the years, including the merger of Leis Medical Inc. and Medicine Lodge Inc. in 2007, when he served as president and CEO.
“Harold has played a key role in our history and will continue to make a significant impact on our future as chairman of the board,” said Brady Shirley, president and CEO.
Linville’s retirement is effective Sept. 5.