AtriCure Announces Hiring Of Chief Technology Officer

MASON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AtriCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRC), a leading innovator in surgical treatments for atrial fibrillation (Afib) and left atrial appendage management, today announced it has hired Salvatore (Sam) Privitera as its Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Privitera will have responsibility for Research and Development activities, as well as Operations, including manufacturing, supply chain, and quality systems.

“Since the beginning of 2014, we have brought eight new products to market in the United States, inclusive of two acquisitions (Endoscopic Technologies, Inc d/b/a Estech, and nContact, Inc.)”

Most recently, Mr. Privitera served as Vice President of Research and Development at Bard Medical (“BMD”), a division of C.R. Bard (NYSE: BCR), where he helped grow BMD approximately 40% in 5 years to over $1 billion in revenue globally. He was responsible for a broad range of clinical platforms including Therapeutic Hypothermia, Urologic Drainage, Endourology, Brachytherapy, and Home Care where they impacted over 150 million patients on an annual basis. Additionally, he led multiple discrete design centers, while delivering products into seven global manufacturing centers and numerous supply partners. Prior to his role at Bard, he worked for AtriCure as the Vice President of Engineering and Product Development for ten years. During his tenure at AtriCure, the company grew from a small startup into a public company, and he led development of many platform technologies including the AtriClip product line and the PMA approved Isolator® Synergy™ Ablation System. Prior to AtriCure, Mr. Privitera worked at Ethicon Endo-Surgery, a Johnson and Johnson company, in a variety of research, development and operations roles.

“We are excited to have Sam joining us again at AtriCure,” said Mike Carrel, President and Chief Executive Officer. “He is well recognized as a creative, pragmatic and patient centric innovator with an eye towards bringing high quality products to market efficiently. Additionally, he obviously knows the company well, having served here previously, and he brings a wealth of experience in the Afib space and a deep understanding of the close link between product development and operations. Now is an excellent time to bring him on as we look to continue to scale our organization to support our growth objectives.”

“I am thrilled to be joining AtriCure at such an exciting time in the company’s evolution,” said Mr. Privitera. “The company has not only done a great job of bringing new technologies to market over the past several years, it has scaled operations without any compromise in the quality standards that have always been integral to its culture. With a broad portfolio of products, and an exciting pipeline, the company is well positioned to build on its leadership position in the treatment of persistent and long-standing persistent Afib.”

“Since the beginning of 2014, we have brought eight new products to market in the United States, inclusive of two acquisitions (Endoscopic Technologies, Inc d/b/a Estech, and nContact, Inc.),” continued Mr. Carrel. “These products have contributed meaningfully to our growth, and I’m proud of our teams for their efforts. Sam is joining a high performing team that has a proven track record.”

About AtriCure, Inc.

AtriCure, Inc. provides innovative technologies for the treatment of Afib and related conditions. Afib affects more than 33 million people worldwide. Electrophysiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons around the globe use AtriCure technologies for the treatment of Afib and reduction of Afib related complications. AtriCure’s Isolator® Synergy™ Ablation System is the first and only medical device to receive FDA approval for the treatment of persistent Afib. AtriCure’s AtriClip Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion System products are the most widely sold LAA management devices worldwide. For more information, visit AtriCure.com or follow us on Twitter @AtriCure.