EPISODE 030
The experienced CEOs on this panel have authored some of the greatest stories in Medtech. In this discussion, they delve into their approaches to managing start-ups to multi-million – or billion – dollar acquisitions or IPOs. How do they accurately assess a struggling company and direct a team to turn weakness into strength?
Podcast Guest
Michael DeMane
Michael DeMane
Nevro
Michael DeMane joined Nevro in 2011 and is the Chairman and CEO of the Company. Mr. DeMane is a veteran medical device executive, having held leadership roles in the US, Europe and Australia over the past 30 years. Prior to Nevro his most recent operating role was COO of Medtronic, Inc., and prior to that, Medtronic’s Senior Vice President and President Europe, Canada, Latin America and Emerging Markets, where he directed the company’s operations in those regions. Before joining Medtronic, Mr. DeMane served as Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, for Smith & Nephew Pty. Ltd. Mr. DeMane has completed the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. He holds an M.S. in Bioengineering from Clemson University in South Carolina and a B.S. in Chemistry from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.
Andrew Cleeland
CEO
Fogarty Institute for Innovation
Andrew Cleeland is a seasoned executive with 30 years in the medical device industry in both the private and public-sectors.
Prior to joining the FII, he was Vice President and General Manager of Medtronic’s (MDT:NYSE) Transcatheter Mitral Valve business following its 2015 acquisition of Twelve Inc., where he was president and CEO. Prior to Twelve, he was president and CEO of Ardian Inc., the pioneer of renal denervation for hypertension, heart failure and other associated disorders, which was also acquired by Medtronic in 2011. Together these two acquisitions totaled $1.5B.
Andrew began his career with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration, progressed to large med tech companies in Telectronics Pacing Systems and Baxter Healthcare (BAX:NYSE), then onto the Silicon Valley start-up space working with Radiant Medical, Ardian and Twelve.
He is also currently Vice Chairman of The Foundry, the premier medical device incubator based in Menlo Park, California and serves as a Director for two venture-funded companies nVision Medical and Saluda Medical.
Andrew has received numerous awards and honors, and is a frequent guest lecturer at Stanford University. He is passionate about healthcare and a champion of innovators and innovation in the med tech field. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Biophysics) from the Swinburne Institute of Technology.
Michael Ackermann
VP, Neurostimulation
Allergan (Oculeve)
Michael is currently Vice President, Neurostimulation for Allergan, plc, and most recently CEO of Oculeve, Inc., which was acquired by Allergan in August 2015. He has eleven years of experience in medical technology development in both academic and industrial settings in the fields of ophthalmology, chronic pain and movement disorders. He received a B.E. degree, magna cum laude, in biomedical engineering from Vanderbilt University, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University, is a graduate of the Stanford University Biodesign fellowship, and Vision Research Fellow at Stanford. He has numerous patents and peer-reviewed publications.
Meet Our Host
Geoff Pardo
Geoff has been in medtech for over two decades in both operational and investment roles. He is passionate about the industry potential and sharing stories from the front lines of innovation.