16/02/2011 | 07:00 CET | Group Announcements
Stäfa (Switzerland), 16.02.2011 - Sonova Holding AG, the world’s leading provider of hearing systems, announced today the creation of a new Management Board position to strengthen its hearing implant business. The strategic relevance of this business and the goal of achieving a leadership position in this market in the long term will be underscored by the strong representation at the top management level of the Group. To that end Hansjürg Emch has been appointed new Group Vice President Medical, effective March 1, 2011.
Sonova is strongly committed to developing a comprehensive, hearing-related medical product strategy. The new GVP Medical will have overall business responsibility for the hearing implant segment, including Advanced Bionics and Phonak Acoustic Implants.
"The creation of the new GVP Medical senior management position underscores the strategic significance of the medical business area for the Sonova Group," said Valentin Chapero, CEO of Sonova Holding AG. "Hansjürg Emch will strengthen our management team with his profound experience in the implant business and his excellent management skills."
Hansjürg Emch has been working for 15 years in the healthcare sector and is an executive with outstanding success. During his time at implant manufacturer Synthes he held various positions and gained broad specialist and management skills: He was President of the global Spine division, prior to this position he was responsible for the Group’s regional sales in Europe and acquired experience in general management, sales, product and business development as well as clinical and regulatory affairs in the US and Europe. In his most recent position as President Synthes Spine he led the global Spine division to significant sales growth. Hansjürg Emch, born 1968, is Swiss citizen. He has a Master of Science and Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
New Group Vice President R&D
Effective June 30, 2011, Hans Leysieffer has decided to leave Sonova Holding AG after nearly eight years in his position as Group Vice President R&D and member of the Management Board for personal reasons. Sonova Holding AG will appoint his successor shortly.
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