Hoya Corporation Appoints Chris Japp Global President of Hoya (Pentax) Lifecare Division

TOKYO, March 29, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hoya Corporation announced the appointment of Chris N. Japp to the position of Global President, Hoya (Pentax) Lifecare Division.

"Hoya Corporation is extremely pleased to have Chris Japp lead the global division for Lifecare," said Hiroshi Hamada, COO of Hoya Corporation. "Chris brings a wealth of knowledge, insight and experience from the medical devices and imaging industry. We expect Chris' leadership to have a major impact in growing Lifecare and Pentax Medical in the years to come."

With more than 25 years experience as a senior executive in the medical imaging technology industry, Mr. Japp brings a proven track record in global healthcare firms. He has held executive positions at General Electric Medical, St. Jude Medical, and most recently was Vice President & General Manager of Boston Scientific's Imaging Business based in Fremont, California. Mr. Japp has a degree in Electrical Engineering from Queen's University in Canada, has taken Executive MBA coursework at Temple University in Tokyo, and is Six Sigma certified.

"I am honored and excited to be leading the talented global team at Hoya (Pentax) Lifecare," Mr. Japp says. "Pentax's expertise and knowledge in medical endoscopy technology combined with the additional strength and focus as a result of the recent merger with Hoya Corporation will position us as the global leader in this field. Most importantly, our ongoing commitment and #1 objective will be to provide our physician customers and their patients with the highest quality products and services, as well as new innovations that improve the detection and treatment of cancer and other serious diseases."

About Hoya Lifecare

Hoya Lifecare provides endoscopic imaging devices and technology to the medical profession under the brand name of PENTAX. We specialize in the development of video and fiber endoscopy equipment and computer technology/imaging products for diagnostic, therapeutic and research applications in the GI, ENT and Pulmonary medical fields. The company offers a full range of endoscopes, accessories, carts, computer hardware & software platforms, video equipment, and computer software for image and data management. Recent advances include Motion Picture Studio (MPS) for full- motion, real-time video capture of procedures, transnasal TNE & TEGD, 360degrees Ultrasound, and Confocal Endomicroscopy - an emerging technology that allows cellular and sub-cellular viewing of tissue through an endoscope. For more information about Hoya Lifecare, visit http://www.hoya.co.jp/english/index.html.

About Hoya Corporation

Hoya Corporation is a global technology company based in Tokyo, Japan, and the leading supplier of innovative and indispensable high-tech products and services based upon its advanced optics technologies. Hoya is active in four fields of business: (1) Eye Care provides eyeglasses, operates retail shops for contact lenses, and makes intraocular lenses for cataract surgery; (2) Life Care provides endoscopic system; (3) Electro-Optics makes mask blanks and photo masks for the semiconductor devices and LCD panels, optical lenses for digital cameras, and glass memory disks for HDDs; and (4) Imaging produces SLR/compact digital cameras, interchangeable lenses, lens modules and micro lenses. Hoya now has over 100 subsidiaries and affiliates, and employs more than 38,000 people worldwide.

SOURCE Hoya Corporation