CARLSBAD, Calif.--Sunrise Medical Chairman Michael Hammes
announced the appointment of Michael N. Cannizzaro as vice
chairman, president and CEO on Thursday. Cannizzaro will also join
the company's board of directors.
Cannizzaro has served as CEO of several health care businesses,
including Insight Health Services, National Nephrology Associates
and Beltone Electronics. Most recently, he was operating partner at
J.W. Childs Associates, a Boston-based private equity firm, where
he advised on acquisition and management of a variety of health
care companies.
In a company statement, Hammes said the timing of Cannizzaro's
appointment "relates directly to the evolution of our business
strategy and direction."
In May, the company announced it will operate as two separate
organizations, Sunrise Mobility and DeVilbiss Healthcare. (See
target="_blank">HomeCare Monday, May 14.)
Cannizzaro will be directly responsible for leading the mobility
business, including its Quickie, Sopur and Jay brands, as well as
the recently integrated A.R.T Operations (Artistry in Rehab
Technology). In addition, he will oversee DeVilbiss Healthcare,
which will continue to be managed by President and CEO Kees
Regeling.
"Since the time of our going private we have significantly
improved our cost and market positions," Hammes said. "As a further
strategic evolution, we determined that creating separate, focused
businesses would improve long-term prospects and management focus.
This has been the driving force behind our spin-offs of DynaVox
Systems and Joerns Healthcare as well as the creation of separate
organizations for Sunrise Mobility and DeVilbiss Healthcare."
Cannizzaro said he hopes to develop the businesses "into even
stronger global competitors."
