Tag Archive for: Global Marketing

Megan Eckerman Joins CryoLife as Vice President, Global Marketing

Life Science Partner is pleased to announce the recruitment of Megan Eckerman to CryoLife (NYSE:CRY) as Vice President of Global Marketing.

Eckerman will lead the unification of this Atlanta-based company’s US and European marketing efforts under a common worldwide strategy as CryoLife continues its transformation from an allographic human tissue provider to a global aortic cardiovascular device leader.

CryoLife is a leader in cryogenically preserved human tissues for cardiovascular applications, as well as heart valves and other medical devices for blood vessel repair.

Megan Eckerman

With a focus on aortic technologies, the company has recently expanded their offerings to heart valves and stent grafts with the acquisition of On-X Life Technologies and JOTEC stent graft systems, respectively.

Ms. Eckerman joins CryoLife from Bolton Medical, an aortic stent graft manufacturer, where she served as Vice President of Global Marketing and was instrumental in the merger of Bolton Medical and Terumo’s subsidiary Vascutek under the brand Terumo Aortic following Bolton’s 2017 acquisition by the Japanese medical equipment company. Her earlier career features progressive sales and marketing roles with Medtronic and Intuitive Surgical, as well as service as Chief of Satellite Launch Operations in the United States Air Force.

“Megan’s deep understanding of cardiovascular technologies and their various worldwide customer bases will be a tremendous asset to CryoLife as they continue to reinvent themselves on a global stage,” notes Tom Callaway, MD, MBA, Founder of Life Science Partner. “I am confident her high emotional intelligence and thoughtful leadership philosophy will help her mobilize her team toward this ambitious goal.”

Ms. Eckerman earned her BS in Kinesiology from Indiana University and her MBA from the University of Colorado.

About Life Science Partner Executive Search

Life Science Partner is a specialized executive search firm that recruits transformational leaders for healthcare and life sciences companies. Our high-touch, partner-led process ensures an exceptional level of service, while our backgrounds as physicians and industry executives enable us to efficiently deliver the brightest candidates in the medical device, biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and healthcare technology fields.

About CryoLife

Headquartered in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, CryoLife is a leader in the manufacturing, processing, and distribution of medical devices and implantable living tissues used in cardiac and vascular surgical procedures.  CryoLife markets and sells a highly competitive product portfolio focused on treating aortic disease in more than 80 countries worldwide.

Press Release PDF

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Jeanne Forbis Selected to Lead Medtronic Global Public and Media Relations

Life Science Partner recruit an accomplished communicator, crisis manager and media expert

Life Science Partner announces the placement of Jeanne Forbis as vice president, public and media relations for Minneapolis-based Medtronic, Inc. Forbis will hold worldwide responsibility for public and media relations, community affairs, brand management and the Medtronic Foundation.

An award-winning communications expert with 24 years of experience, Forbis will also lead corporate communications strategy and represent the company as a spokesperson. Medtronic, a leading medical technology company, has more than $7 billion in annual revenues.

“As a former journalist, spokesperson and media relations executive, Jeanne clearly possesses the depth of experience and breadth of skills to have an impact at Medtronic,” says Life Science Partner Founder and President Thomas H. Callaway. “The placement is particularly noteworthy, however, because Jeanne was drawn not only to the opportunity, but to Medtronic’s mission.”

Over her career, Forbis has held leadership roles at major newspapers, guided relations with the financial and lay press, managed crisis response and advised on senior executive communication strategies. Prior to Medtronic, she was general manager, corporate communications at ChevronTexaco, the second largest American energy company.

As manager, corporate communications at Conoco, Forbis guided executive, financial and employee communications through major transitions such as the company’s merger with Phillips Petroleum, Conoco’s split from DuPont and initial public offering, and the acquisition of Gulf Canada.

In managing the Conoco-Phillips merger while at Conoco, Forbis leveraged her previous seven years of experience at Phillips Petroleum, where she served as a company spokesperson in media relations and as financial communications coordinator.

Between 1979 and 1990, Forbis held editorial titles at Tulsa World and The St. Louis Sun.

Forbis holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Oklahoma State University.

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