AirXpanders Names New CEO

AirXpanders Inc. has appointed a new president and CEO, Frank Grillo.
 
Grillo joins AirXpanders with a distinguished career in the U.S. medical device industry. He previously served for 10 years in multiple roles with Boston Scientific Corp., including vice president of Marketing for its Women’s Health, Urology/Gynecology Division. Grillo was then recruited to Kyphon, where he led the marketing organization for its $400 million U.S.-based business as vice president of Marketing and Business Development. He was a key member of the team involved in the sale of Kyphon to Medtronic plc for $4.2 billion in 2007.
 
After Kyphon’s sale, Grillo joined Intuitive Surgical Inc., where he was a senior executive responsible for the marketing and business development function for the company. As vice president of Marketing and New Business Development, he directed the company’s marketing strategy and implementation of marketing programs; oversaw all product launches worldwide; and organized and managed initiatives to drive both procedural adoption and sales in numerous surgical specialties while providing oversight for acquisition, licensing and development activities. Most recently, Grillo was at MRI Interventions, where he served as president and CEO.
 
“We are delighted to have attracted and hired such a high-caliber CEO. Frank’s experience and track record in all aspects of the medical device business, including marketing, business development, sales growth and operational efficiency will serve our company well,” said Barry Cheskin, co-founder and board chairman of AirXpanders.
 
Grillo has a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Tufts University and an MBA in marketing, finance, and operations from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
 
“I am excited to join AirXpanders, and to continue driving the adoption of the AeroForm tissue expander,” said Grillo. “AeroForm is an innovative product, uniquely suited to transform post- mastectomy tissue expansion. The product is highly innovative, the market is significant, and surgeons are very interested in the ability to streamline this important step in recovery for their patients. I am excited to take on the leadership of the company and pursue the great opportunity in front of us.”
 
Cheskin added, “The company has made excellent progress over the last few months in reducing costs and improving the efficiency of the sales process. I would like to personally thank Scott Murcray, our interim CEO, for his outstanding leadership during this period.”
 
Founded in 2005, AirXpanders Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets medical devices to improve breast reconstruction. The company’s AeroForm Tissue Expander System is used in patients undergoing two-stage breast reconstruction following mastectomy. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., AirXpanders’ vision is to be the global leader in reconstructive surgery products and to become the standard of care in two-stage breast reconstruction. AirXpanders is a publicly listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange under the symbol AXP” AeroForm was granted U.S. Food and Drug Administration de novo marketing authorization in 2016, subsequent U.S. market clearance in 2017, first CE mark in Europe in 2012, and is currently licensed for sale in Australia.