• Bioheart (Sunrise, Florida) said its board has named Howard Leonhardt, the company's co-founder, board chairman and chief technology officer, to serve as CEO following the resignation of William Pinon as president/CEO. In addition, Doug Owens, director, clinical affairs, will assume responsibility for Bioheart's regulatory and clinical strategy for its investigational MyoCell therapy clinical trials. Owens has previously managed the MARVEL trial for the company. Bioheart makes devices and biologics that help monitor, diagnose and treat heart failure and cardiovascular diseases.

• Frederick Bauer was named VP of operations for Cardica (Redwood City, California). Previously, Bauer was VP of operations for the cardiac surgery division of Medtronic. Cardica makes automated anastomosis systems for CABG surgery.

• Randy Thurman has been named executive chair-man of CardioNet (Conshohocken, Pennsylvania). He most recently was chairman/CEO of Viasys Healthcare. CardioNet is a wireless medical technology company with an initial focus on the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiac arrhythmias.

• Frank Vandeputte has been named VP-Europe for CryoCath Technologies (Montreal) reported the appointment of. Vandeputte most recently was area VP, Benelux and Nordic for the Sorin Group. Cryo-Cath Technologies makes cryotherapy products to treat cardiac arrhythmias.

• Mark Murray was named CFO of OptiMedica (Santa Clara, California). Prior to joining OptiMedica, Murray spent more than 20 years at Guidant and its predecessor, Advanced Cardiovascular Systems. OptiMedica is an ophthalmology company.

• Michael Voss has been named VP/GM of vascular intervention at Spectranetics (Colorado Springs, Colorado). Prior to joining Spectranetics, Voss was global VP of marketing for Bard Access Systems at C.R. Bard. Spectranetics makes the only excimer laser approved in the U.S., Europe and Japan for use in minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures.