Sequana Medical AG, a privately held medical device company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative, implantable pump systems to manage fluid build-up in patients with liver disease, congestive heart failure and certain cancers, announced today that Rolf A. Classon, former top executive of Bayer AG and Pharmacia AB, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors.
“We are delighted to welcome Rolf in the key position of Chairman,” noted Noel L. Johnson, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Sequana Medical. “His extensive experience as a senior officer and Board member of a number of international medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, gives him an excellent vantage point from which to help steer Sequana Medical in the next phase of its growth.”
“I look forward to working with the Sequana Medical Board of Directors and Management Team to bring my experience to bear as the company furthers the international commercialization of its unique alfapump® System for patients with liver disease, and continues its development activities in key markets such as management of fluid overload in patients with advanced heart failure,” stated Mr. Classon.
In addition to Sequana Medical, Mr. Classon currently serves on the Boards of NYSE and Zurich Stock Exchange-listed companies, Catalent Pharma Solutions, Fresenius Medical Care, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Tecan Group Ltd., and recently stepped down from the Boards of Aerocrine AB and Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. after successful sale of the companies.
From 2005 to 2006, Mr. Classon was Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Batesville, IN-based Hillenbrand Industries. Prior to that, between 1991 and 2004, Mr. Classon held a number of key positions within Bayer, including Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Bayer Healthcare in Germany and President of Bayer Diagnostics. Mr. Classon holds a Pol. Mag. from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the Gothenburg School of Engineering.
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