A Medical Device Daily

Orthopedic device titan Zimmer Holdings (Warsaw, Indiana) yesterday named David Dvorak as its president/CEO and a member of its board, effectively immediately.

Dvorak, who had been group president, global businesses and chief legal officer, succeeds Ray Elliott as president/CEO. Elliott, who served nearly 25 years as president and since 2001 its president/CEO and chairman — and its predecessor's president since 1997 — said last November that he would retire in the first half of 2007, but would remain chairman until November of 2007.

"While the years I have spent at Zimmer have been the most rewarding of my career, I determined some time ago that it would be appropriate for me to turn over the day-to-day leadership of the company and spend more time devoted to external boards and transaction-related work," Elliott said. "Our board conducted a thorough and methodical search for my successor and was unanimous in its selection of David Dvorak. I have had the pleasure of working with David and helping him prepare for the future — we are confident that Zimmer and its shareholders are in excellent hands."

Dvorak joined Zimmer in 2001, and helped execute its successful spin-off from its former parent. He previously was senior VP, general counsel and secretary of STERIS, a leader in medical products sterilization and contamination prevention products and services. He earlier practiced law, with a focus on corporate and securities law, and mergers and acquisitions.