Category — Employment and People

There is no doubt that the economic recession which has now touched all parts of the world is taking it’s toll on most industries.

One of the most resilient however is the healthcare industry. Sibaya LifeScience! recently interviewed several companies supplying services to “big pharma” in the form of contract manufacturing – especially drug delivery – at ICSE, P-Mec, Cphi – Frankfurt, Germany. While this was not a scientific study, anecdotally we were told that it was business as usual, in fact for some, business was clearly on the increase as manufacturing was being outsourced to contract manufacturers.

Not the case though for small and medium sized biotech companies according to this report in the IHT which lists companies in the Biotech hub in Massachusetts struggling for cash and laying off employees. Biotech companies need cash to fund research while waiting for their revenues to hopefully arrive one day, but in the US biotech companies have only been able to raise about half of what they did in the prior year.Technorati Tags: biotech, contract manufacturing

Hans Bergh, legendary CEO at Permobil has announced his intention to step down for personal reasons as soon as a successor is found. The process is being led by Tom Erixon, Chairman of the Board at Permobil and is expected to take several months.

Under Hans Bergh’s leadership the company has become the third largest producer of powered wheelchairs worldwide while he tripled their sales to approximately 120 million Euro.

Hans Bergh will continue as a member of the board and will contribute to several of the companies projects.

More Here (in Swedish)

A. Kavita

Summary of Industry Experience

• Over a decade years of Sales Experience in Pharmaceutical and Medical device industry.
• Expertise in Organizing Clinical meets for medical fraternity, camps and involving in patient education booklets.
• Excellent track record in Achievement of Targets & Goals.
• Managing of Depot & C& F operations.
• Good communication skills, Negotiation skills & excellent Interpersonal relations.
• Willing to tear down walls, build bridges. I have great experience, lots of energy, and I’m not afraid to start from the beginning

Previous Employment

Medical device sector

Edwards Lifesciences (I) Private Ltd.
Territory Manager
December ’00 to July’06
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A. Kavita

Summary of Industry Experience

• Over a decade years of Sales Experience in Pharmaceutical and Medical device industry.
• Expertise in Organizing Clinical meets for medical fraternity, camps and involving in patient education booklets.
• Excellent track record in Achievement of Targets & Goals.
• Managing of Depot & C& F operations.
• Good communication skills, Negotiation skills & excellent Interpersonal relations.
• Willing to tear down walls, build bridges. I have great experience, lots of energy, and I’m not afraid to start from the beginning

Previous Employment

Medical device sector

Edwards Lifesciences (I) Private Ltd.
Territory Manager
December ’00 to July’06
[Read more →]

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

Brian Sterner is thrown from his wheelchair by police in the state of Florida, United States.

UPDATE: February 16, 2008:

Hillsborough County Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones, 44, turned herself in and was booked into the Orient Road Jail early Saturday, jail records show.

Reuters and more at CNN.

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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