Jerry Goodman Appointed President of Health Care Systems for Smith & Nephew

LONDON, March 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Nephew plc (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN) today announced the appointment of Jerry Goodman to the newly created role of President of Health Care Systems. Goodman will be responsible for building and sustaining relationships with hospital systems, group purchasing organizations, key accounts, surgery center development companies and government associated contracting.

"As the health care industry evolves, focusing on the needs of our customers remains the key to our success. Under Jerry's leadership, we will offer our customers not only the best products available, but solutions that meet their unique needs and distinguish us as their company of choice," said David Illingworth, Chairman and CEO.

Goodman joined Smith & Nephew in 2001 as Vice President of US Sales for the Endoscopy business unit. Since then, he has held progressively senior commercial roles including general management. His career prior to joining Smith & Nephew includes progressively senior roles in sales and corporate accounts at US Surgical Corporation.

"The health care environment continues to change, and this impacts our customers in different ways," said Goodman. "Smith & Nephew is focused on bringing our customers solutions, tailored toward their specific needs, which enable them to leverage our broad portfolio in ways that enhance their ability to deliver great care to patients in an efficient way."

For more information about Smith & Nephew, please visit www.smith-nephew.com.

About Us

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising in Orthopaedics, including Reconstruction, Trauma and Clinical Therapies; Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management.  Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives.  The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust.  The Company operates in 32 countries around the world.  Annual sales in 2009 were nearly $3.8 billion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  In particular, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins discussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions of our product pipeline.  These statements, as well as the phrases "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation, claims and regulatory approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof.  All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing.  Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith & Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

* Trademark of Smith & Nephew.  Certain marks registered US Patent and Trademark Office.

SOURCE Smith & Nephew plc