07.31.13
Teleflex Inc. has named Gwen Watanabe its new vice president of business development and technical resources. Watanabe joined the critical care and surgical device company in July 2012 as part of its acquisition of Hotspur Technologies.
Hotspur makes catheter-based technologies aimed at restoring blood flow for patients with obstructed vessels.
“I am pleased to announce that Gwen Watanabe has been promoted to the role of vice president–business development and technical resources,” Benson Smith, chairman, president and CEO of Teleflex, said in prepared remarks. “Gwen is uniquely qualified for this important leadership role at Teleflex. She was a founding leader in four successful medical device start-ups, including AneuRx; Bacchus Vascular; Nellix Endovascular; and Hotspur Technologies. She has deep relationships with thought leaders and venture capitalists in the medical device space, and, working closely with our business unit leaders, will be responsible for shaping our R&D pipeline, executing on our acquisition strategy, and managing our early stage research and development investments.”
Prior to joining Teleflex, Watanabe served since 2009 as CEO and chief financial officer (CFO) of Hotspur Technologies. Previously, she was the co-founder, chief business officer and CFO of Nellix Endovascular Inc. Watanabe also has held leadership positions with Lava Ventures, Saratoga Ventures, Bacchus Vascular Inc. and AneuRx Inc. She holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Since joining Teleflex last year, I’ve enjoyed working with the team and am excited about the opportunity to expand my role,” said Watanabe. “Teleflex has a well defined plan and strategy for future growth and I look forward to helping further execute that strategy.”
Watanabe will continue to lead the Hotspur team, the Semprus team (which focuses on device surface technology) and the Teleflex Corporate Business Development and Strategy Group.
Teleflex makes a variety of critical care surgical products and is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, N.C.
Hotspur makes catheter-based technologies aimed at restoring blood flow for patients with obstructed vessels.
“I am pleased to announce that Gwen Watanabe has been promoted to the role of vice president–business development and technical resources,” Benson Smith, chairman, president and CEO of Teleflex, said in prepared remarks. “Gwen is uniquely qualified for this important leadership role at Teleflex. She was a founding leader in four successful medical device start-ups, including AneuRx; Bacchus Vascular; Nellix Endovascular; and Hotspur Technologies. She has deep relationships with thought leaders and venture capitalists in the medical device space, and, working closely with our business unit leaders, will be responsible for shaping our R&D pipeline, executing on our acquisition strategy, and managing our early stage research and development investments.”
Prior to joining Teleflex, Watanabe served since 2009 as CEO and chief financial officer (CFO) of Hotspur Technologies. Previously, she was the co-founder, chief business officer and CFO of Nellix Endovascular Inc. Watanabe also has held leadership positions with Lava Ventures, Saratoga Ventures, Bacchus Vascular Inc. and AneuRx Inc. She holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Since joining Teleflex last year, I’ve enjoyed working with the team and am excited about the opportunity to expand my role,” said Watanabe. “Teleflex has a well defined plan and strategy for future growth and I look forward to helping further execute that strategy.”
Watanabe will continue to lead the Hotspur team, the Semprus team (which focuses on device surface technology) and the Teleflex Corporate Business Development and Strategy Group.
Teleflex makes a variety of critical care surgical products and is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, N.C.