Varian Medical Systems CEO Dow Wilson Appointed to the President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) today announced that its president and chief executive officer, Dow R. Wilson, has been appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to the newly established President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA).  Mr. Wilson is among a group of 15 private sector leaders who were hand-picked to advise the President, through the Secretary of Commerce, on ways of strengthening commercial engagement between the United States and Africa.

As a world leading supplier of cancer treatment and X-ray imaging technology, Varian's mission is to focus energy on saving lives.  In recent years, under Wilson's leadership, the company has worked to expand its customer base in Africa and other parts of the world where cancer patients tend to be underserved.

"We have identified and taken advantage of trade and investment opportunities in Africa, built lasting commercial partnerships with the African public and private sectors, and contributed to the development of Africa's health infrastructure," Wilson said.  "Our goal is to address the increasing cancer burden in Africa by serving as a strategic partner to African governments and the African private sector to define and implement national cancer initiatives and programs for the benefit of African cancer patients." 

Over the last 20 years, Varian has installed some 100 radiotherapy treatment systems at sites across the African continent.  The company has also established a managing director position for Africa that is based in South Africa, and is working to equip six cancer centers in Algeria through an agreement with the Algerian government.  "This is part of a larger Varian strategy to operate more locally in key markets in Africa, and deepen our presence through strategic hubs throughout the continent," Wilson said.  "I'm excited about the opportunity to contribute to the important work of this Presidential Advisory Council."

The PAC-DBIA was created as part of an Executive Order, signed by President Barack Obama in August to promote broad-based economic growth in the United States and Africa through mutual trade and investment. 

"Economic growth on the Continent will continue to drive demand for U.S. exports, which will ultimately help create jobs at home and provide valuable investment opportunities for U.S. businesses," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, in a press release announcing the appointments to the PAC-DBIA.  "With Africa being home to six of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world, the President's Advisory Council will provide expert counsel on strengthening our partnerships with African countries to leverage opportunities for U.S. companies committed for the long term."

"Developing the health sector in Africa is essential to promoting opportunity and growth across the continent, as emphasized by the US Government's Global Health Initiative and Varian is proud to serve as an industry leader in this endeavor," Wilson said. 

Wilson brings significant global business management experience to his new appointment.  He has held key executive positions since joining Varian in 2005. Prior to being appointed CEO, he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer and president of Varian's global Oncology Systems business. He joined Varian following a 19-year career with General Electric, where he held a variety of senior management positions including CEO for GE Healthcare-Information Technologies. Prior to that, he was general manager for a number of GE divisions, including the X-Ray, Functional Imaging, Computed Tomography (CT), and Positron Emission Tomography businesses. A graduate of Brigham Young University, Wilson also holds an MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

For more information, please see the official Commerce Department press release or the PAC-DBIA website.

About Varian Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, focuses energy on saving lives by equipping the world with advanced technology for fighting cancer and for X-ray imaging.  The company is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is also a premier supplier of X-ray imaging components, including tubes, digital detectors, and image processing software and workstations for use in medical, scientific, and industrial settings, as well as for security and non-destructive testing.  Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 6,700 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 www.varian.com or follow us on Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release regarding future business, events, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, and other similar matters, including, but not limited to, statements using the terms "goal," "opportunity," and "will" constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, the risks described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed from time to time by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Meryl Ginsberg, 650.424.6444 
[email protected]

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