09.11.14
Irvine, Calif.-based MRI Interventions Inc. has named medical device veteran Frank Grillo its new CEO. Grillo will join MRI Interventions as president on Oct. 6, and will become CEO on Jan.1 next year. Kimble Jenkins, who has led MRI Interventions since 2003, will assume the position of executive chairman on Jan. 1, and will continue to be actively involved with the company.
Grillo joins MRI Interventions from Intuitive Surgical Inc., where he has served as a senior executive responsible for marketing and business development functions for the $17 billion surgical systems company. As vice president, marketing and new business development, Grillo directed the company’s marketing strategy; implemented key upstream and downstream marketing programs; oversaw all product launches worldwide; organized and managed initiatives to drive both procedural adoption and capital sales; drove adoption curves in urology, gynecology, thoracic and general surgery; and provided oversight for many of the acquisition, licensing, and co-development activities within the organization.
Prior to his time at Intuitive Surgical, Grillo was a senior executive at the medical device company Kyphon Inc., most recently as vice president, marketing and business development. Grillo was recruited to Kyphon to drive strategic initiatives to expand the company’s product and procedural portfolios. In his position at Kyphon, Grillo led the marketing organization for the company’s $400 million U.S.-based business. Grillo was a key member of the team involved in the sale of Kyphon to Medtronic for $4.2 billion in 2007. Prior to joining Kyphon, Grillo served for 10 years in multiple roles with Boston Scientific Corporation, including vice president, marketing for the company’s Women’s Health, Urology/Gynecology Division.
“Our objective with ClearPoint is to revolutionize minimally invasive neurosurgery,” said Jenkins, referring to MRI Interventions’ imaging guide for neurological surgery. “We have a proven product and a strong base of initial users. Our next phase of growth is focused on driving widespread commercialization, and Frank is the right person to lead the company through this stage and beyond. Frank’s capabilities and skills in this area are proven. His experiences driving adoption of new medical technologies at Intuitive Surgical, Kyphon and Boston Scientific make Frank an ideal fit for MRI Interventions. I look forward to working with him and supporting his leadership of the company.”
“The field of neurosurgery is one of the last major untapped markets in the medical field. Driven by the aging patient population, a significant unmet clinical need, and a surgical approach that is antiquated compared to surgical techniques in other fields of medicine, neurosurgery is the next big opportunity,” said Grillo. “The ClearPoint platform is an innovative product, uniquely suited to transform this field. I believe that patients in need of a variety of neurosurgical procedures can benefit from the product platform developed by MRI Interventions. I am excited to apply what I have learned regarding the adoption of new medical technologies to transform the neurosurgery market with ClearPoint.”
MRI Interventions uses magnetic resonance imaging technology to build platforms for performing the next generation of minimally invasive surgical procedures in the brain and heart.
Grillo joins MRI Interventions from Intuitive Surgical Inc., where he has served as a senior executive responsible for marketing and business development functions for the $17 billion surgical systems company. As vice president, marketing and new business development, Grillo directed the company’s marketing strategy; implemented key upstream and downstream marketing programs; oversaw all product launches worldwide; organized and managed initiatives to drive both procedural adoption and capital sales; drove adoption curves in urology, gynecology, thoracic and general surgery; and provided oversight for many of the acquisition, licensing, and co-development activities within the organization.
Prior to his time at Intuitive Surgical, Grillo was a senior executive at the medical device company Kyphon Inc., most recently as vice president, marketing and business development. Grillo was recruited to Kyphon to drive strategic initiatives to expand the company’s product and procedural portfolios. In his position at Kyphon, Grillo led the marketing organization for the company’s $400 million U.S.-based business. Grillo was a key member of the team involved in the sale of Kyphon to Medtronic for $4.2 billion in 2007. Prior to joining Kyphon, Grillo served for 10 years in multiple roles with Boston Scientific Corporation, including vice president, marketing for the company’s Women’s Health, Urology/Gynecology Division.
“Our objective with ClearPoint is to revolutionize minimally invasive neurosurgery,” said Jenkins, referring to MRI Interventions’ imaging guide for neurological surgery. “We have a proven product and a strong base of initial users. Our next phase of growth is focused on driving widespread commercialization, and Frank is the right person to lead the company through this stage and beyond. Frank’s capabilities and skills in this area are proven. His experiences driving adoption of new medical technologies at Intuitive Surgical, Kyphon and Boston Scientific make Frank an ideal fit for MRI Interventions. I look forward to working with him and supporting his leadership of the company.”
“The field of neurosurgery is one of the last major untapped markets in the medical field. Driven by the aging patient population, a significant unmet clinical need, and a surgical approach that is antiquated compared to surgical techniques in other fields of medicine, neurosurgery is the next big opportunity,” said Grillo. “The ClearPoint platform is an innovative product, uniquely suited to transform this field. I believe that patients in need of a variety of neurosurgical procedures can benefit from the product platform developed by MRI Interventions. I am excited to apply what I have learned regarding the adoption of new medical technologies to transform the neurosurgery market with ClearPoint.”
MRI Interventions uses magnetic resonance imaging technology to build platforms for performing the next generation of minimally invasive surgical procedures in the brain and heart.