Medical device company CVRx Inc. has created a new executive position to head its marketing department, chief commercial officer. The company attracted Philippe Wanstock, Ph.D., from Medtronic to take on this new role, where he will take responsibility for the global launch of CVRx’s Barostim neo product. Barostim neo has received CE Mark approval and is currently available in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria.

Barostin neo is intended to treat hypertension and heart failure by helping trigger the body’s natural blood flow regulation systems that may not be functioning correctly. The system allegedly works by electrically activating the baroreceptors located in the carotid artery, the body's natural blood pressure sensors that regulate cardiovascular function. CVRx claims the system helps arteries to relax, making it easier for blood to flow through the body and reducing cardiac exertion; The heart to slow down, allowing more time for the organ to fill with blood; And kidneys to reduce fluid in the body, lowering both excessive blood pressure and workload on the heart.

Wanstok brings 20 years of medical device experience to CVRx. Most recently, he served as the international general manager of cardiac rhythm disease management, commercial operations, at Medtronic, leading an international team of 3,000 colleagues generating more than $2.4 billion of revenues in active implantable devices. He began his career with Medtronic in his native France, where he helped establish the cardiac rhythm disease management business. Prior to this, he served as vice president of international marketing of cardiac rhythm management (CRM) and electrophysiology at Boston Scientific, which he joined when the company acquired Guidant where he was at different times general manager and director of CRM marketing. At Guidant, he served in a variety of management roles during which he established country and regional operations in France and Spain, built sales organizations and developed distribution networks.

Wanstok holds a master’s degree in economics from the Université Paris-Assas and a doctorate in finance and international marketing from the Université Panthéon Sorbonne, both in Paris, France.

"We are thrilled to have Philippe join the CVRx team," said Nadim Yared, president and CEO of CVRx. "Philippe's consistently superb track record of accomplishments in the active implantable medical device market makes him ideally suited to lead CVRx's worldwide commercial activities."

Wanstock expressed enthusiasm for CVRx’s technology: "The Barostim neo is an unparalleled technology for treating hypertension and heart failure," he said. "I am very excited to join CVRx to lead the commercial activities for this unique, game-changing therapy."

CVRx Inc. is a privately held company that is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn.

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