11.14.13
Cook Medical, part of Cook Group Incorporated, has a new president.
The Bloomington, Ind.-based company now has Pete Yonkman at its helm, a 12-year veteran of the company.
Yonkman most recently served as executive vice president overseeing Cook Medical’s 10 strategic business units. He joined Cook in 2001 as corporate counsel and has held numerous positions within the company including vice president of Asian operations, chief legal officer, and president of Cook Urological.
“Cook is an amazing company run by a family unlike any other in the world. It is an honor and incredibly humbling experience to have the opportunity to help continue the Cook story,” said Yonkman. “Our culture as a company is ideal for adapting to the rapid pace of change we see in healthcare today. As long as we maintain our values, tackling those challenges and pursuing the exciting new opportunities we see for helping patients will be a lot of fun for us all. I can’t wait to see where the future takes us.”
After earning undergraduate degrees in psychology and philosophy at Indiana University in Bloomington, Yonkman also earned a law degree from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
“Cook Medical has been blessed with success because we have always pursued what’s best for patients, employees and the communities where we work and live," said Kem Hawkins, president of Cook Group Incorporated. "As we move into the future, maintaining that same focus in the midst of a dynamic and challenging marketplace will be critical. Pete’s deep experience across all of our businesses, combined with his commitment to our patient-centered mission, will serve Cook and our patients extremely well.”
Hawkins, while no longer at the head of the medical division, remains president of the Cook Group.
Cook Medical includes divisions such as Urology, Endoscopy, Aortic Intervention, Critical Care, Interventional Radiology, Surgery, Peripheral Intervention, Women's Health, Lead Management and Otolaryngology. The Cook Group parent company has other affiliates, including Cook Aviation and real estate development company CFC Inc.
New Irish R&D Center
Cook Medical also opened its new state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) innovation center at its plant in Limerick, Ireland.
“Life sciences is a key sector targeted in our action plan for jobs, and we have put in place a range of changes to support growth in this sector, such as the establishment of a Health Innovation," said Richard Bruton, Ireland's minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. "Today’s announcement that Cook Medical is establishing a state-of-the-art innovation center in Limerick with an investment of 10 million euros is a very welcome vote of confidence in the sector. I wish them every success and hope that, with the right supports from government, we can see further growth in the future.”
The Bloomington, Ind.-based company now has Pete Yonkman at its helm, a 12-year veteran of the company.
Yonkman most recently served as executive vice president overseeing Cook Medical’s 10 strategic business units. He joined Cook in 2001 as corporate counsel and has held numerous positions within the company including vice president of Asian operations, chief legal officer, and president of Cook Urological.
“Cook is an amazing company run by a family unlike any other in the world. It is an honor and incredibly humbling experience to have the opportunity to help continue the Cook story,” said Yonkman. “Our culture as a company is ideal for adapting to the rapid pace of change we see in healthcare today. As long as we maintain our values, tackling those challenges and pursuing the exciting new opportunities we see for helping patients will be a lot of fun for us all. I can’t wait to see where the future takes us.”
After earning undergraduate degrees in psychology and philosophy at Indiana University in Bloomington, Yonkman also earned a law degree from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
“Cook Medical has been blessed with success because we have always pursued what’s best for patients, employees and the communities where we work and live," said Kem Hawkins, president of Cook Group Incorporated. "As we move into the future, maintaining that same focus in the midst of a dynamic and challenging marketplace will be critical. Pete’s deep experience across all of our businesses, combined with his commitment to our patient-centered mission, will serve Cook and our patients extremely well.”
Hawkins, while no longer at the head of the medical division, remains president of the Cook Group.
Cook Medical includes divisions such as Urology, Endoscopy, Aortic Intervention, Critical Care, Interventional Radiology, Surgery, Peripheral Intervention, Women's Health, Lead Management and Otolaryngology. The Cook Group parent company has other affiliates, including Cook Aviation and real estate development company CFC Inc.
New Irish R&D Center
Cook Medical also opened its new state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) innovation center at its plant in Limerick, Ireland.
The new center, with the expansion of clean rooms, packaging, storage and other facilities, represents an investment of 10 million euros by Cook Medical with the support of Ireland's Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland. The company has increased staff by 100 over the past two years at the facility.
“Life sciences is a key sector targeted in our action plan for jobs, and we have put in place a range of changes to support growth in this sector, such as the establishment of a Health Innovation," said Richard Bruton, Ireland's minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. "Today’s announcement that Cook Medical is establishing a state-of-the-art innovation center in Limerick with an investment of 10 million euros is a very welcome vote of confidence in the sector. I wish them every success and hope that, with the right supports from government, we can see further growth in the future.”
Cook Medical’s Limerick site currently develops peripheral vascular, gastroenterology and urology devices for global distribution. The innovation center is a dedicated space enabling the company to collaborate closely with physicians in its research and development efforts. Equipped with the latest technology to recreate and simulate clinical conditions, it will enable improved device testing and better product design outcomes.
“Cook Medical is one of the longest established companies in the medical devices industry,” says Barry O’Leary, chief executive, IDA Ireland. “Their products are sold in 135 countries across the world. Cook is a large employer in the Limerick region – they make an huge contribution to the local economy. Cook’s decision to continue to invest in Ireland is a clear endorsement of the country’s pro-business environment and of the quality of the staff available in Limerick. Cook’s investment will ensure that Ireland remains at the forefront of research and development in new technologies and products in the medical device sector.“
Ireland has developed a medtech cluster now made up of more than 250 companies.