Jeffrey Ezell has been named director of media relations for the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed; formerly the Health Industry Manufacturers Association; Washington). Ezell previously was an account executive for Edelman Public Relations Worldwide. AdvaMed is a trade association of more than 800 medical-product manufacturers.

James Sluetz has been named president and chief executive officer of Apex Medical (East Walpole, Massachusetts), which is developing an implantable blood pressure device designed to improve the operation of heart-assist pumps. A co-founder of Apex Medical, Sluetz previously was a senior executive with engineering service provider the East Development Group.

William Schilt, president and chief operating officer of Cardiomedics (Irvine, California), has been named chief executive officer. Cardiomedics makes advanced, portable, external counter-pulsation systems used for treating angina on an outpatient basis.

Cardiovascular drug developer CV Therapeutics (Palo Alto, California) reported several executive appointments to prepare for launch of its angina treatment therapy, ranolazine, which is in late-stage clinical development. Liz Belardinelli, MD, has been promoted from director, pharmacological sciences, to vice president, drug research & pharmacological sciences; Tricia Suvari, JD, was named vice president, general counsel and assistant corporate secretary; Bhav Sharma, PhD, was promoted from senior director, manufacturing and process development, to executive director, manufacturing & process development; Sandra Skettino, MD, was promoted from senior director, clinical research, to executive director, clinical research & operations; and Peter Strumph was promoted from senior director, marketing and the project team leader for ranzoline, to executive director, commercial manufacturing & operations.

John Jenkins has been named vice president and general counsel for Guidant (Indianapolis, Indiana), effective Oct. 1. He succeeds J.B. King who, at that time, will assume the position of special counsel until his retirement from the company Dec.1. Jenkins served as deputy general counsel of Eli Lilly and Co. until his retirement this past February.

Jason Sholder has become the new president and chief operating officer of Raytel Medical's (San Mateo, California) Cardiac Information Services subsidiary. Cardiac Information Services is a provider of remote cardiac monitoring and testing services using telephonic and Internet communication technology. Sholder most recently served as president of the Cardiac Assist Division at Datascope.