OAK BROOK, Ill., May 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- International executive search firm Witt/Kieffer today announced the recruitment of David Buche as Chief Operating Officer for AFcell Medical, the leading innovator and designer of surgical birth tissue forms as marketed under its AmnioClear brand. John McLean, Managing Partner and Global Leader of Witt/Kieffer's Life Sciences Practice led the search.
Mr. Buche leads new product development, sales force expansion and strategic growth activities for AFcell. He brings to the position more than 25 years experience in bringing biologic products to market and commercializing regenerative biologic technology platforms, having previously held executive leadership positions at Integra Life Sciences, Synovis Life Technologies, and Spectranetics Corporation.
According to Robin Young, CEO and Founder of AFcell Medical, at this point in the company's growth, it was critical to find a COO with the right experience who also fit the culture. "John McLean could not have done a better job understanding our leadership needs and finding the best candidates," he said.
Mr. McLean and his Witt/Kieffer Life Science team identified nearly 200 potential candidates before narrowing the field by going through a detailed key selection criteria assessment to identify strong finalists. "I was really impressed with the candidates," said Mr. Young. "Before I even interviewed them, I knew they were a great match for the company."
"David knocked me over," he went on to say. "His background included a lot of the things I personally look for in a candidate. He had been with a start-up company that had grown rapidly. He was an integral part of the team that successfully led the company through that process."
"David's extensive experience bringing biologic products to market and commercializing regenerative biologic technology platforms fits well with AFcell Medical's culture of innovation for general surgery, wound care and orthopaedic indications," Mr. Young explained.
"Post-hire, David's been doing even better than we expected," added Mr. Young. "Clearly we found the right leader through John and Witt/Kieffer's process."
About Witt/Kieffer
Witt/Kieffer is the preeminent executive search firm that identifies outstanding leadership solutions for organizations committed to improving the quality of life, including the life sciences, healthcare, higher education, and not-for-profit industries. For more information, visit www.wittkieffer.com.
About AFcell Medical
AFcell Medical Inc. is a leading supplier of birth tissue products for use in the clinical setting. Its processing partner is the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF), the leading tissue bank and processor of allograft tissues in North America and Europe. AFcell Medical supplies its trademarked AmnioClear(R) amniotic allograft tissue to hospitals throughout the United States. For more information visit www.afcellmedical.com. AmnioClear(R) is a registered trademark of AFcell Medical Inc.
SOURCE Witt/Kieffer
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