Business Wire03.27.17
BIOLASE Inc., a dental laser developer, has appointed veteran sales executive James (Jim) D. Surek as its vice president of sales for the Americas, effective March 13. He reports to BIOLASE President and CEO Harold C. Flynn Jr.
Surek, 49, brings with him more than 24 years of experience in medical device sales and sales leadership in start-up, turnaround and high-growth environments.
Most recently, Surek served as the vice president of sales for Entellus Medical Inc., a venture-backed startup. Since joining the company in 2010, he built a 150-person top-performing sales organization, went head-to-head against market leaders Johnson and Johnson and Medtronic plc, built a 65 percent market share in the office procedure market, and elevated sales growth, leading to a successful initial public offering in 2015.
“Jim has deep experience in medical device sales leadership,” said Flynn. “He has built strong teams and has rapidly grown revenue in challenging markets and against formidable competitors. At this time at BIOLASE, with the recent launch of two new game-changing laser products, it is important to have a veteran medical device executive like Jim overseeing our most important market. We expect his contributions to our results in the Americas to have a significant positive impact on the achievement of our near and long term corporate objectives. We are pleased to welcome him to the BIOLASE leadership team.”
In 2003, Surek was recruited to join Advanced Bionics as vice president of sales for the company's Neuromodulation/Pain Management Division. In this role, he not only built a 285-member sales organization, but also unseated competitors like Medtronic and ANS, growing sales from zero to $198 million and market share from zero to 31 percent.
His efforts were pivotal in positioning Advanced Bionics for successful sale to Boston Scientific Corp. When the Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant Division was spun off from the company, Surek was asked to serve as vice president of sales. In that capacity, he was charged with rapidly advancing the sales culture and training by developing a solid sales and messaging process that helped drive revenue and led to the acquisition of Advanced Bionics by Sonova Medical.
Prior to Advanced Bionics, Surek held positions of increasing responsibility at Medtronic/Sofamor Danek Group from 1994 to 2003, including vice president, sales and development; group director, sales, Great Lakes region; and district area sales manager. Surek began his career in sales as a sales representative and, after turning one of the most challenging areas for Sofamor Danek into one of the most successful areas, he became the first direct district sales manager for the company.
Surek has a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Loyola University in Chicago, Ill., and a master's degree in international management from the American Graduate School of International Management, Thunderbird Campus.
BIOLASE develops, manufactures, markets, and sells laser systems in dentistry and medicine and also markets, sells, and distributes dental imaging equipment, including digital X-rays and CAD/CAM scanners. BIOLASE’s products are focused on technologies that advance the practice of dentistry to both dentists and their patients. BIOLASE's proprietary laser products incorporate approximately 230 patented and 85 patent-pending technologies designed to provide biologically clinically superior performance with less pain and faster recovery times. BIOLASE's principal products are dental laser systems that perform a broad range of dental procedures, including cosmetic and complex surgical applications, and a full line of dental imaging equipment. BIOLASE has sold approximately 33,600 laser systems to date in over 90 countries around the world. Laser products under development address BIOLASE’s core dental market and other adjacent medical and consumer markets. The company is based in Irvine, Calif.
Surek, 49, brings with him more than 24 years of experience in medical device sales and sales leadership in start-up, turnaround and high-growth environments.
Most recently, Surek served as the vice president of sales for Entellus Medical Inc., a venture-backed startup. Since joining the company in 2010, he built a 150-person top-performing sales organization, went head-to-head against market leaders Johnson and Johnson and Medtronic plc, built a 65 percent market share in the office procedure market, and elevated sales growth, leading to a successful initial public offering in 2015.
“Jim has deep experience in medical device sales leadership,” said Flynn. “He has built strong teams and has rapidly grown revenue in challenging markets and against formidable competitors. At this time at BIOLASE, with the recent launch of two new game-changing laser products, it is important to have a veteran medical device executive like Jim overseeing our most important market. We expect his contributions to our results in the Americas to have a significant positive impact on the achievement of our near and long term corporate objectives. We are pleased to welcome him to the BIOLASE leadership team.”
In 2003, Surek was recruited to join Advanced Bionics as vice president of sales for the company's Neuromodulation/Pain Management Division. In this role, he not only built a 285-member sales organization, but also unseated competitors like Medtronic and ANS, growing sales from zero to $198 million and market share from zero to 31 percent.
His efforts were pivotal in positioning Advanced Bionics for successful sale to Boston Scientific Corp. When the Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant Division was spun off from the company, Surek was asked to serve as vice president of sales. In that capacity, he was charged with rapidly advancing the sales culture and training by developing a solid sales and messaging process that helped drive revenue and led to the acquisition of Advanced Bionics by Sonova Medical.
Prior to Advanced Bionics, Surek held positions of increasing responsibility at Medtronic/Sofamor Danek Group from 1994 to 2003, including vice president, sales and development; group director, sales, Great Lakes region; and district area sales manager. Surek began his career in sales as a sales representative and, after turning one of the most challenging areas for Sofamor Danek into one of the most successful areas, he became the first direct district sales manager for the company.
Surek has a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Loyola University in Chicago, Ill., and a master's degree in international management from the American Graduate School of International Management, Thunderbird Campus.
BIOLASE develops, manufactures, markets, and sells laser systems in dentistry and medicine and also markets, sells, and distributes dental imaging equipment, including digital X-rays and CAD/CAM scanners. BIOLASE’s products are focused on technologies that advance the practice of dentistry to both dentists and their patients. BIOLASE's proprietary laser products incorporate approximately 230 patented and 85 patent-pending technologies designed to provide biologically clinically superior performance with less pain and faster recovery times. BIOLASE's principal products are dental laser systems that perform a broad range of dental procedures, including cosmetic and complex surgical applications, and a full line of dental imaging equipment. BIOLASE has sold approximately 33,600 laser systems to date in over 90 countries around the world. Laser products under development address BIOLASE’s core dental market and other adjacent medical and consumer markets. The company is based in Irvine, Calif.
