Biosensors International Group has announced that Jose (“Pepe”) Calle Gordo has been appointed the company’s new chief executive officer, with effect from 1 November 2014. Jack Wang will continue with the company to help the transition and take on a new role of chief technology officer. Meanwhile, Yoh-Chie Lu, Biosensors’ executive chairman, will serve as interim chief executive officer during this transitional period.
“Wang’s vision and dedication have played a significant role in our transformation from a small medical device company to an internationally recognised and profitable corporation. We want to thank him for his significant contributions,” Lu comments. “Calle, with his expertise in the drug-eluting stent industry and extensive international experience, will lead the future growth of Biosensors as it evolves from a successful entrepreneurial company to a more diverse and structured international organisation. I will work with the rest of the management team as interim chief executive officer to ensure a smooth transition and execute the growth strategies set up by our board.”
Calle had a successful career with over 25 years of broad business and management experience in the medical devices industry, having served in various vice president and managerial roles at Abbott, Guidant and Eli Lilly. He led the global team that developed and commercialized Xience, a family of drug-eluting stents and a market leader for the treatment of coronary artery disease while serving as vice president and general manager of the Drug Eluting Stents, Vascular Intervention at Guidant based in Santa Clara, California, USA.
As vice president of Abbott Vascular based in Brussels, he later managed the international operations of Abbott Vascular outside of the USA and more recently he led the commercial introduction of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (ABSORB BVS) and MitraClip, the world’s first percutaneous mitral valve repair therapy.
During his earlier years with Guidant and Eli Lilly he contributed in different managerial roles to the commercial and therapy development of the implanted defibrillator and cardiac resynchronisation therapy.
“I am delighted to be joining Biosensors as chief executive officer,” says Calle. “With my experience in leading the development and commercial success of innovative new medical products across the globe, I am confident that I can help Biosensors strengthen its position in the worldwide drug eluting stent market, develop innovative technologies to broaden its product portfolio, and steer the company onto the path of becoming a bigger international player with multiple product platforms.”
