RF Surgical Systems Hires CFO and Manufacturing Director

RF Surgical Systems Inc. has appointed Ron Wangerin as chief financial officer (CFO) and John Merritt as director of Manufacturing Operations.

As CFO, Wangerin reports to President/CEO John T. Buhler and is responsible for the company’s overall financial operations. Wangerin has more than 25 years of financial experience, including 10 years as CFO of publicly traded telecommunications company ViaSat Inc.; two years as CFO with wireless data collection provider NexusData Inc.; three years as CFO with Hughes/Raytheon Training LLC, a subsidiary of Raytheon Company, and nine years with Deloitte & Touche LLP in public accounting.

“Ron’s experience directing all financial and business management activities for companies of all sizes, and managing and communicating with boards of directors and other stakeholders, make him a valuable addition to our team,” said Buhler. “Ron’s financial strengths will help guide the company as we continue on our growth trajectory, focusing on emerging opportunities within the patient safety space.”

Merritt, who also reports to Buhler, is responsible for global manufacturing operations. Before joining RF Surgical Systems, Merritt was director of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering with Bard Biopsy Systems, a division of C. R. Bard (formerly SenoRx), for 15 years. Prior to that, he was director of Manufacturing for TherOx, a startup firm developing supersaturated oxygen solutions for cardiac applications.

“John’s 32 years of medical device manufacturing and engineering experience will help us enhance our supply chain management capabilities backed by key analytics that fast track our manufacturing operations,” said Buhler. “This is vital as we expand our core adjunct technology business and explore future opportunities in the broader retained surgical object detection market.”

Based in Carlsbad, Calif., RF Surgical Systems develops technology to detect and prevent retained surgical items after surgery. The FDA approved its RF Assure Detection System in November 2006. The RF System uses a patented, low-energy radio frequency signal designed to detect misplaced surgical sponges through blood, dense tissue, bone and metal. The company claims sponges and other items are left behind in patients roughly 39 times per week in the United States.