Advanced Bionics Presents Strengthened Management Team

VALENCIA, Calif., March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Bionics (AB), the only U.S.-based manufacturer of cochlear implants (or "bionic ears"), is presenting a strengthened management team of Gerhard Roehrlein as Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Bionics, LLC and Hansjurg Emch as Group Vice President Medical on the Sonova Management Board.

After nearly 25 years with Siemens, a global pioneer in electronics and electrical engineering, Gerhard Roehrlein joined AB as Chief Technical Officer in 2010. In his role as CTO at Advanced Bionics, Roehrlein leads the research, development, and technology initiatives. Serving as CEO, Roehrlein also implements long-term business strategies, making high-level decisions that impact the entire company and directing the overall growth of the organization. This appointment underscores AB's commitment to remaining the technology innovation leader in the cochlear implant field.

"In my leadership roles at Advanced Bionics, I will continue our unwavering dedication to putting patients first by focusing on the quality and reliability of our products, as well as providing world-class services. I am excited about the products we are currently developing that I believe will improve hearing performance for our recipients and prove once again that AB is the industry's innovation leader," said Roehrlein. "Every day I am inspired by the passion of each employee at AB to make a difference in the lives of those affected by hearing loss."

Roehrlein was educated in his native Germany and holds a master's degree in Electrical Engineering and a doctoral degree in Ultrasound Computed Tomography from University Erlangen. He was also a research associate at the university for three years. While at Siemens, Roehrlein worked primarily within the company's healthcare sector, which benefits patients by supplying affordable and personalized healthcare solutions. He held eight positions, six of which were at the vice president level, both in the United States and abroad. His responsibilities ranged from being senior director of the Electronics & Development Computed Tomography Business Unit to his latest assignment as vice president of Supply Chain Management for Siemens Water Technology. His relevant experience includes several positions within the company's Audiology Business Unit, as VP of three units at different times: Global Operations, Special Projects, and Research and Development.

In addition, Sonova Holding AG, the parent company of Advanced Bionics, has added a new Management Board position as part of its commitment to becoming the leader in implantable hearing solutions. As the new Group Vice President Medical, Hansjurg Emch will be responsible for overseeing the Group's hearing implant segment, including AB and Phonak Acoustic Implants.

Hansjurg Emch has been working for 15 years in the healthcare sector and is an executive with outstanding success. During his time at implant manufacturer Synthes, he held various positions and gained broad specialist and management skills: He was President of the global Spine division, prior to this position he was responsible for the Group's regional sales in Europe and acquired experience in general management, sales, product and business development as well as clinical and regulatory affairs in the United States and Europe. In his most recent position as President of Synthes Spine, he led the global Spine division to significant sales growth. Hansjurg Emch, born 1968, is a Swiss citizen. He has a Master of Science and Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.

"The creation of the new GVP Medical senior management position underscores the strategic significance of the medical business area for the Sonova Group," said Valentin Chapero, CEO of Sonova Holding AG. "Hansjurg Emch will strengthen our management team with his profound experience in the implant business and his excellent management skills."

Sonova's vision for the future of Advanced Bionics is marked by this momentous leadership expansion in its implantable hearing solutions.

About Advanced Bionics

Advanced Bionics is a global leader in developing the most advanced cochlear implant systems in the world. Founded in 1993 and working with Phonak under the Sonova Group since 2009, AB develops cutting-edge cochlear implant technology that restores hearing to the deaf and allows recipients to hear their best.

With sales in over 50 countries and a proven track record for developing high-performing, state-of-the-art products, AB's talented group of technologists and professionals from all over the world are driven to succeed, work with integrity and stay firmly committed to quality.

To learn more about AB and its revolutionary cochlear implant technology, please visit www.advancedbionics.com.

About Sonova

Sonova is the leading provider of innovative hearing healthcare solutions. The globally active group is the world's top manufacturer of hearing systems, the market leader in wireless communication systems for audiology applications, develops and manufactures advanced cochlear implant systems and provides professional solutions for hearing protection. Sonova is pursuing a clear growth strategy and is intent on growing faster than the market. To this end it is constantly expanding its existing business segments and branching out into other areas of the hearing healthcare industry.

Present in over 90 countries, and with a workforce of over 6,800 employees, Sonova generated sales of CHF 1.5 billion in the financial year 2009/10 and a net profit of CHF 355 million. This financially strong group of companies bases its success on innovation, customer focus and proactive cost management. The company has been successfully promoting understanding and communication for over 60 years, and is ideally positioned to benefit from the trends in this growth industry.

For more information please visit www.sonova.com.

Sonova shares (ticker symbol: SOON) have been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 1994.

SOURCE Advanced Bionics