• Kenneth Freeman has been named executive chairman of Accellent (Wilmington, Massachusetts). The appointment of Freeman, a member of Accellent’s board, was made in connection with the departure of Ron Sparks, president/CEO, who retired from the company effective Dec. 31. Previously, Freeman was chairman/CEO from 1995 to 2004 of Quest Diagnostics. From 1972 to 1995, he served in many financial and general management roles at Corning Incorporated. A managing director of KKR, he will also continue as chairman/CEO of Masonite International. Accellent also reported that Stewart Fisher, executive VP of administration and CFO, will join with Freeman in the newly created Office of the Chairman. Before joining Accellent in 2001, Fisher served as CFO of GenTek. His previous experience also included work at General Motors. Accellent provides fully integrated, outsourced manufacturing and engineering services to the device industry in the cardiology, endoscopy and orthopedic markets.

• Julie Piton has joined AtriCure (Westchester, Ohio) as VP, finance and administration, as well as CFO, effective Jan. 23, 2007. Previously, Piton was VP, finance and investor relations, at School Specialty. AtriCure makes surgical devices to create precise lesions in soft and cardiac tissues.

• Pierre Maison-Blanche, MD, has been named chief medical officer for Biomedical Systems (St. Louis/Brussels, Belgium). In addition to his duties as Biomedical Systems’ chief medical officer, Maison-Blanche serves as a consultant for Assistance Publique des Hopitaux de Paris. In 1998, Maison-Blanche established the Centralized ECG Services Department for MDS Pharma Services in Paris, and chaired the MDS ECG Advisory Board from 2002-2006. Biomedical Systems is a provider of centralized diagnostic services for the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, including the acquisition, analysis and management of data for cardiac safety, imaging and pulmonary function testing.

• Michael Ennen, MD, has been named VP, global marketing, for FoxHollow Technologies (Redwood City, California). Ennen previously spent five years in the healthcare practice of the consulting firm of McKinsey & Company. In addition, FoxHollow reported that Richard Zimmer, senior VP of sales, will be leaving the company at the end of the first quarter of 2007, and the company has initiated search for his replacement. FoxHollow makes minimally invasive devices for the removal of plaque and thrombus for the treatment of peripheral artery disease.

• Ramon Burton has been named CFO of Medwave (Arden Hills, Minnesota). Burton, an attorney, previously served in CFO positions at Sterion, TCF Industries and Minnesota Diversified Industries. Also, Rocco Morelli was named senior VP sales and marketing for the company. Morelli previously was VP of marketing and business development for the Medical Solutions Group and VP of sales and marketing for Smiths Medical’s patient monitoring business. Additionally, James Hawley was appointed to the company’s board and will serve as chairman of its audit committee. Medwave develops sensor-based, non-invasive blood pressure measuring solutions.