Category — Employment and People

Robert K. Gudbranson has been appointed to the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer. He rejoins Invacare after a stint at Lincoln Electric. He formally held the positions of Investor relations, business development director as well as being based in Europe where he was CFO.

Press Release

Michael N. Cannizzaro has been hired as Vice Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Sunrise Medical. He is described as an executive with significant experience in successfully leading healthcare businesses, and will also join the company’s Board of Directors. His recent experience includes six years at J.W. Childs Associates, a Boston, MA private equity firm. Prior to that he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Beltone Electronics from 1998 until June 2000 when he sold the company to GN ReSound.

This comes shortly on the heels of the announcement by Sunrise to split its business into two parts - Sunrise Mobility and Devilbiss Healthcare.

“Jim Elrod, Managing Director at Vestar Capital Partners - the major Sunrise shareholder (who took Sunrise private in 2000) and is a major equity investor in Sunrise, commented, “Success in today’s healthcare environment requires a solid understanding of underlying clinical solutions, reimbursement, competitive dynamics, and the changing patterns of distribution. We are very pleased to attract someone with Mike Cannizzaro’s experience. Mike has the ability to build upon the solid foundation that Mike Hammes developed in creating highly attractive, focused businesses from the historical operations of Sunrise Medical.””

The full release is here

“Sunrise Medical Appoints Healthcare Industry Veteran as Vice Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer

Michael N. Cannizzaro to Lead the Newly Separated Sunrise Mobility and DeVilbiss Healthcare Units

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Following the Enron and Worldcom scandals, the US responded by passing the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) law in July 2002, which requires inter alia CEOs and CFOs of companies listed in the US to certify the accuracy of their accounts with the SEC. It increases penalties for violations by up to 25 years in prison, by flouting the principle of the territoriality of laws. Its extra-territorial effect goes well beyond the borders of the US since it applies not only to US-listed companies but to their subsidiaries worldwide.

In France, SOX raises many legal, as well as cultural, difficulties. The challenge consists in finding adequate control mechanisms that allow fulfilling SOX requirements but that are compatible with French rules and practices.

This has lead to Codes of Ethics being created or expanded to cover the employees of non-US entities, regardless of the country they work in.
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Excellent position for experienced manager in the hospital sector to lead a team of professionals.

The company is one of the world leaders and is looking for an individual who has an international company background that has the ambition to take this company to the number one position in France.

Interested candidates should contact Frank Barlin at Sibaya Healthcare

World Leader seeks highly qualified candidate for the position of Implant/Audiology Specialist�Italy

Our Client, with World Headquarters located in USA and European offices in France and Belgium, has developed and manufactures a middle ear implant. This device compensates for auditory deficits in individuals with moderately severe to severe hearing impairment via direct mechanical stimulation of the middle ear ossicles. This new technology involves surgical implantation of internal components by an ear surgeon, using audiometric assessment; fitting and follow up performed by an audiologist.

The implant was launched in Europe 5 years ago with a semi-implantable model. Currently clinical trials are underway to support the introduction of a fully implantable model in Europe in 2006.The initial response from the market has been very favorable, and we are now seeking to add a highly qualified candidate for the position of Implant/Audiology Specialist�Italy to the existing team. The individual will initially cover the Italian market and subsequently may assume responsibilities for other local regions. The position will report to the Director of Sales and Marketing, situated in the United States.

The main function of the Implant Specialist�Italy will be to generate the purchase of the implant by hospitals and clinics in the region and to provide technical support when needed. In order to realize this, the candidate will need to combine Surgical and Audiological activities.

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Frank Bork has joined Sunrise Medical in the position of Director Research and Development and is based in the United States.

Prior to Sunrise Bork held senior business and R&D positions at Spectore and Hedstrom.

In addition Bork (originally from Germany) held executive business development and R&D positions in medical products company Invacare, both in the United States and in Germany where he had European responsibility.

ESA (Executive Search Alliance) is a new retainer based executive search company based in Germany - with worldwide reach. ESA has a particular emphasis on the business side of healthcare - medical devices, pharmaceuticals, homecare and biotechnology.

ESA has an exceptional executive search capability in Germany and maintains associate offices in several other major countries.

The company founder and Managing Director is Erich Messerschmitt who started the company after having worked at another executive search firm. In addition Erich has wide ranging industry experience having held senior executive positions at Millipore, BD (Becton Dickinson) and Vivendi.

Additional information can be found on the company website