MASON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 21, 2017--
AtriCure,
Inc. (Nasdaq:
ATRC), a leading innovator in surgical treatments for atrial
fibrillation (Afib) and left atrial appendage management, today
announced that Regina Groves and B. Kristine Johnson have been appointed
to its Board of Directors. In addition, the company announced that
Michael Hooven and Karen Robards, two existing members of the Board of
Directors, will not stand for re-election.
Ms. Groves has been the Chief Executive Officer at REVA Medical, Inc.
(ASX: RVA), since September of 2015. Prior to her current position, Ms.
Groves served as Vice President and General Manager of the AF Solutions,
Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure division of Medtronic, a leading global
medical technology company. In this position, she successfully developed
and executed strategies to re-enter the catheter-based Afib ablation
market and achieved the goal to be market leader in paroxysmal, or
intermittent, Afib ablation. The role also allowed her to successfully
acquire and integrate companies, complete numerous clinical trials, and
launch novel products in the United States and worldwide. Prior to this,
she was the Vice President of Quality and Regulatory for Medtronic’s
Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management (“CRDM”) business from 2006 to 2008
and before that was Vice President and General Manager for Patient
Management CRDM at Medtronic from 2002 to 2006.
“I am excited to be a part of AtriCure’s Board and look forward to
partnering with management going forward,” said Ms. Groves. “My interest
and experiences in the space, combined with the company’s leading
position in the surgical treatment of Afib, is what attracted me to this
opportunity. There is incredible potential as the company builds on its
leading position to continue expansion into minimally invasive solutions
to address a large and under-served segment of the Afib market.”
Ms. Johnson is currently President of Affinity Capital Management, a
venture capital firm that invests primarily in seed and early-stage
health care companies in the United States, a position she has held
since 2000. In addition to her role at Affinity, Ms. Johnson currently
serves on the Boards of Directors of Piper Jaffray (NYSE: PJC), The
Spectranetics Corporation (NASDAQ: SPNC), and the University of
Minnesota Foundation Investment Advisors, as well as the boards of
several private entities. Prior to her role at Affinity, Johnson was
employed for 17 years at Medtronic, serving most recently as Senior Vice
President and Chief Administrative Officer from 1998 to 1999. Her
experience at Medtronic also includes service as President of the
Vascular Business and President of the Tachyarrhythmia Management
Business, among other roles.
“The opportunity to join the Board of AtriCure is one that I could not
pass up,” said Ms. Johnson. “I am grateful for the opportunity and look
forward to applying my experiences to help the company continue to grow.
AtriCure is well positioned to continue its leadership in the surgical
ablation space and to grow in new markets by investing in commercial,
educational, and clinical initiatives.”
“I am pleased that Reggie and Kris have agreed to join the AtriCure
Board of Directors,” said Mike Carrel, President and Chief Executive
Officer. “Their experiences and relationships carry great value, and I
am looking forward to working with them.”
Two Board Members not pursuing re-election
The company also announced that two current Board members, Michael
Hooven and Karen Robards, will not stand for re-election during the next
election cycle.
Mr. Hooven, the founder of the company, has served on the Board of
Directors since August of 2002. In addition to serving on the Board, he
was the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer from November
2000 to August 2002, and Chief Technology Officer from August 2002 to
December 2006. Mike will continue in a Board Emeritus position, where he
will be involved with the company on a consulting basis focused on
helping the company maintain its innovation leadership position.
“Mike’s contributions to AtriCure are far too numerous to mention,” said
Mr. Carrel. “His entrepreneurial and creative spirit has been sustained
throughout the company and will continue to play a part in everything we
do. Frankly, everyone who has worked at AtriCure and works here
currently has Mike to thank for his vision, perseverance, and passion in
driving the company all these years. I am also excited to continue to
have Mike play a part in the company’s future by providing us with
continued counsel and guidance on various initiatives.”
Ms. Robards has served on the Board of Directors since November of 2000.
When the company was founded, Ms. Robards was instrumental in securing
funding and ensuring adequate capital to serve as a platform for the
company’s early stages. Her background in investment banking as head of
healthcare activities at Morgan Stanley and her director roles at
BlackRock Mutual Funds and Greenhill and Co. have enabled her to provide
valuable board insight.
“I want to thank Karen for her service on the Board since the early days
of AtriCure,” said Mr. Carrel. “She has had an immeasurable impact on
the company, from securing some of the earliest funding which allowed
the company to pursue its earliest technological innovations, to
providing continued guidance as a Board member for the past 16 years. We
are grateful for her dedication to AtriCure and appreciative of her
leadership.”
About AtriCure, Inc.
AtriCure, Inc. provides innovative technologies for the treatment of
Afib and related conditions. Afib affects more than 33 million people
worldwide. Electrophysiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons around the
globe use AtriCure technologies for the treatment of Afib and reduction
of Afib related complications. AtriCure’s Isolator® Synergy™ Ablation
System is the first and only medical device to receive FDA approval for
the treatment of persistent Afib. AtriCure’s AtriClip Left Atrial
Appendage Exclusion System products are the most widely sold LAA
management devices worldwide. For more information, visit AtriCure.com
or follow us on Twitter @AtriCure.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170321005201/en/
Source: AtriCure, Inc.
AtriCure, Inc.
Valerie Storch-Willhaus, 612-605-3311
Media
Relations
Director, Corporate Marketing and Communications
vstorch-willhaus@atricure.com
or
Andy
Wade, 513-755-4564
Investor Relations
Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
awade@AtriCure.com