A Medical Device Daily

Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics (S&N; Memphis, Tennessee) this week reported key executive promotions and the formation of a new division.

The company's clinical therapies business, which markets the Exogen bone healing system and Supartz joint fluid therapy, will become a separate unit within the Orthopaedics business. Joe Woody will continue to lead clinical therapies as vice president and general manager of the new Clinical Therapies Division.

S&N said the Clinical Therapies business has grown considerably – 50% in the U.S. and 44% globally in 2004 – and now will be able to serve its markets better as a separate business responsible for its own strategy and for strategic marketing.

In another major move, Steve Hirsch will move from senior vice president and general manager of the Recon-structive Division to the new post of president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics in Europe. Hirsch will lead the drive to expand Smith & Nephew's business in Europe and in expanding the markets in which the company operates. His role also will include acquisitions in Europe.

"We expect the European market to grow, and in terms of the Birmingham Hip, we expect the market to expand," said Dave Illingworth, president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics. "We have an excellent distribution vehicle in place through our sales force, and we will continue to invest in our specialized sales force."

In other management appointments, Scott Flora will move from his present duties as senior vice president and general manager of the Trauma Division to become senior vice president and general manager of the Reconstructive Division. Mark Augusti will be promoted from vice president, global trauma marketing, to the post of senior vice president and general manager of the Trauma Division.

Flora joined Smith & Nephew in 1986 and has led the Trauma Division since 2003. Augusti joined the company in 2003 as vice president of global trauma marketing, prior to which he held positions as vice president at JP Morgan Chase and global segment manager with GE Medical Systems.