SANUWAVE Health, Inc. (OTCBB: SNWV), an emerging medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of noninvasive, biological response activating devices in regenerative medicine, today announced that Ron Sparks, age 56, a 34-year veteran of the medical device industry, has joined the Company’s Board of Directors.
Mr. Sparks is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Navilyst Medical, Inc., a best-in-class image-guided medical solutions company. He is also an Industry Executive at Avista Capital Holdings, L.P., a leading private equity firm which he joined in 2007. Previously, Mr. Sparks served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director for Accellent Inc., the largest provider of integrated contract manufacturing and design services to the medical device industry. Under his leadership, Accellent tripled revenues in all three of its major device categories, including cardiology, endoscopy and orthopedics. In November 2005, Mr. Sparks led the sale of Accellent to the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. in a transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion.
Prior to Accellent, Mr. Sparks had a 20-year career at Smith & Nephew, plc, where he was a Member of the Group Executive Committee and served as President of the Endoscopy Division from 1998 to 2003. Mr. Sparks served as the President of the Wound Management Division from 1995 to 1998. While at Smith & Nephew, Ron was integrally involved in the successful launch of Dermagraft ®, a cell based therapy used to treat diabetic foot ulcers. Dermagraft reached revenues of $140 million in 2010 under the ownership of Advanced Biohealing, Inc. who announced its acquisition by Shire Pharmaceuticals on May 17, 2011 for $750 million in cash. He has served as Trustee of the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) Education Foundation since 2006, is an Honorary Fellow of the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) and is an honorary member of the International Society of Arthroscopy Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS). Mr. Sparks graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a BA in Finance and Accounting, and completed the INSEAD Advanced Management Program in Fontainebleau, France.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Sparks said, “I am excited to be joining the SANUWAVE Board of Directors at this important juncture in the company’s development. SANUWAVE has an exceptionally dynamic technology platform with multiple large market opportunities. I am delighted to be working with the SANUWAVE team and look forward to contributing to the successful clinical and commercial development of this powerful technology.”
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Ron to our Board of Directors. Ron’s extensive experience in the medical device industry, specifically in wound care and orthopedics, makes him ideally suited to bring strategic value to SANUWAVE as we move toward the commercialization of dermaPACE to treat chronic wounds and execute our plan to bring orthoPACE® to the U.S. for the treatment of a number of orthopedic conditions. Ron’s experiences earned over a very successful career will provide highly relevant, invaluable guidance as we build SANUWAVE and enhance shareholder value,” stated Christopher M. Cashman, SANUWAVE’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
Source: Sanuwave