Varian Medical Systems Announces New Management Positions

PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR), today announced the promotion of several senior managers to support the company's ongoing growth and safety initiatives.

Dow R. Wilson, 52, Executive Vice President for the company, has been named Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for guiding and directing the development, production, promotion, and sale of all Varian products and services throughout the world.  He will be responsible for the Oncology Systems and X-Ray Products business segments as well as the Varian Particle Therapy and Security and Inspection Products businesses.  Mr. Wilson joined the company in 2005 as President of Varian's Oncology Systems where he has led its growth to a more than $2 billion annual business through penetration of international markets, enhanced customer support programs and innovative product developments focused on clinical breakthroughs and meeting customer needs.  Mr. Wilson, who worked in GE senior management for more than 20 years prior to joining Varian, has a BA degree from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.  He will continue to report to Timothy E. Guertin, President and CEO of Varian Medical Systems.

"Our company has grown continually with the help of a talented management team that has built new businesses, developed exciting new products, expanded into international markets, and improved our operational efficiencies," said Mr. Guertin.  "We now have a more than $2.5 billion enterprise and we have set the stage for continued strong growth under the leadership of proven managers who are capable of executing our strategic growth initiatives."

Oncology Systems

Kolleen Kennedy, 52, has been appointed a Senior Vice President for the corporation and President of Oncology Systems, reporting to Mr. Wilson.  Ms. Kennedy has been serving as Vice President and General Manager of Customer Support Services for Varian Oncology Systems where she has helped to build annual sales from under $300 million to greater than $600 million since assuming this responsibility in 2006.  Ms. Kennedy joined Varian in 1997 beginning as a product marketing manager before being appointed to manage Oncology Systems marketing in 2001.  She took on the additional responsibility of managing Oncology's engineering function in 2002.  Prior to joining Varian, Ms. Kennedy worked with Siemens Medical and Radiation Oncology Computer Systems in product sales and marketing roles.  She holds a BS in Radiation Oncology and a BS in Psychology from Wayne State University and an MS in medical physics from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

Patrick Joda, 53, Vice President of Oncology Worldwide Engineering, will step into the role of Vice President and General Manager of Oncology Customer Support Services replacing and reporting to Ms. Kennedy.  He has made significant contributions to improved manufacturing efficiency and he played a key management role in the launch of the company's successful TrueBeam platform for radiotherapy and radiosurgery.  Mr. Joda joined Varian in 2005 as Senior Director of Manufacturing for Oncology Systems and was quickly promoted to Vice President of Worldwide Operations in 2006.  He was named Oncology Systems Vice President of Worldwide Engineering in 2009.  Prior to joining Varian, Mr. Joda had a 22-year career with GE.  He holds BS and MS degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Stout.  

Martin Amstutz, 47, has been appointed Vice President of Worldwide Engineering for Oncology Systems, replacing Mr. Joda in that role.  Mr. Amstutz has been with Varian since 1990 and has been managing the company's research and development facility in Baden, Switzerland where the company develops its imaging and motion management technology and products.  He has a Bachelors degree in Information Technology from Technikerschule in Baden He is reporting to Ms. Kennedy.

Regulatory Management

Vy Tran, 38, has been appointed Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance for the company, reporting directly to the CEO.  She has responsibility for quality systems compliance, quality assurance, internal audits, document control, post market surveillance reporting and quality systems training for Varian's worldwide manufacturing sites.  She is also responsible for regulatory clearance and approval strategies to ensure that new products are accessible to the global market in a timely manner.  

"Quality assurance and safety is a prime consideration that requires top to bottom attention from our entire organization," said Mr. Guertin.  "Vy Tran is a proven leader who has demonstrated great skill at managing regulatory affairs and she will be a tremendous asset to my executive team."

Ms. Tran joined Varian in 1998 and she has held numerous positions in regulatory affairs and compliance.  She holds a BS degree from Santa Clara University and a JD degree from Lincoln Law School in San Jose.

The organizational changes and appointments are effective immediately.

About Varian Medical Systems

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 5,700 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com or follow us on Twitter.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Spencer Sias, (650) 424-5782
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SOURCE Varian Medical Systems