STÄFA, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sonova Holding AG (SIX:SOON), the world’s leading provider of hearing systems, announced today the creation of a new Management Board position to strengthen its hearing implant business. The strategic relevance of this business and the goal of achieving a leadership position in this market in the long term will be underscored by the strong representation at the top management level of the Group. To that end Hansjürg Emch has been appointed new Group Vice President Medical, effective March 1, 2011.
Sonova is strongly committed to developing a comprehensive, hearing-related medical product strategy. The new GVP Medical will have overall business responsibility for the hearing implant segment, including Advanced Bionics and Phonak Acoustic Implants.
"The creation of the new GVP Medical senior management position underscores the strategic significance of the medical business area for the Sonova Group," said Valentin Chapero, CEO of Sonova Holding AG. "Hansjürg Emch will strengthen our management team with his profound experience in the implant business and his excellent management skills."
Hansjürg Emch has been working for 15 years in the healthcare sector and is an executive with outstanding success. During his time at implant manufacturer Synthes he held various positions and gained broad specialist and management skills: He was President of the global Spine division, prior to this position he was responsible for the Group’s regional sales in Europe and acquired experience in general management, sales, product and business development as well as clinical and regulatory affairs in the US and Europe. In his most recent position as President Synthes Spine he led the global Spine division to significant sales growth. Hansjürg Emch, born 1968, is Swiss citizen. He has a Master of Science and Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
New Group Vice President R&D
Effective June 30, 2011, Hans Leysieffer has decided to leave Sonova Holding AG after nearly eight years in his position as Group Vice President R&D and member of the Management Board for personal reasons. Sonova Holding AG will appoint his successor shortly.
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Disclaimer
This Media Release may contain forward-looking statements which offer no guarantee with regard to future performance. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance at the time the statements are made. They are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not confined to, future global economic conditions, exchange rates, legal provisions, market conditions, activities by competitors and other factors outside the company’s control.
About Sonova
Sonova is the leading provider of innovative hearing healthcare solutions. The globally active group is the world‘s top manufacturer of hearing systems, the market leader in wireless communication systems for audiology applications, develops and manufactures advanced cochlear implant systems and provides professional solutions for hearing protection. Sonova is pursuing a clear growth strategy and is intent to grow faster than the market. To this end it is constantly expanding its existing business segments and branching out into other areas of the hearing healthcare industry.
Present in over 90 countries, and with a workforce of over 6,800 employees, Sonova generated sales of CHF 1.5 billion in the financial year 2009/10 and a net profit of CHF 355 million. This financially strong group of companies bases its success on innovation, customer focus and proactive cost management.
The company has been successfully promoting understanding and communication for over 60 years, and is ideally positioned to benefit from the trends in this growth industry.
For more information please visit www.sonova.com.
Sonova shares (ticker symbol: SOON) have been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 1994.