Shafer Takes Helm at Philips

MURRYSVILLE, Pa. — Brent Shafer, a five-year veteran
executive for Philips Healthcare, has been named the new CEO of
global business for Philips Home Healthcare Solutions (including
Philips Respironics).

Shafer, whose appointment was effective May 3, has served
Philips as head of the Philips Healthcare North America Sales and
Service organization and executive vice president and CEO of
Philips North America. He succeeds Don Spence, who left the
Murrysville, Pa.-based respiratory products company last month to
take on the role of CEO for Accellent Inc., a Wilmington,
Mass.-based provider of outsourced precision manufacturing and
engineering services to the medical device industry. Spence had
served as CEO since 2008.

Philips officials noted that Shafer “brings a wealth of
experience in global strategy and has a proven track record of
building and maintaining strong customer relationships and forging
new alliances.” In addition to Philips, Shafer has held executive
positions at Hill-Rom, GE Medical Systems and Hewlett-Packard’s
Medical Products Group.

“With his strong leadership, extensive health care background
and customer focus, I cannot think of a better person to lead our
Home Healthcare business into the future,” said Steve Rusckowski,
CEO of parent company Philips Healthcare. “Under Brent’s leadership
and that of our existing management team, Home Healthcare will
continue to grow its business and focus on the needs of customers
and the patients they serve.”

Shafer will concentrate on driving the growth of the business
and “furthering its strategy to bridge the hospital and home with
innovative products and solutions in sleep, respiratory and home
monitoring,” Philips officials said.

Amsterdam-based Royal
Philips Electronics acquired Respironics in 2008 as the base
for its Home Healthcare Solutions business.