Respironics Names Derek Smith President Of The Hospital Group

MURRYSVILLE, Pa., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Respironics, Inc. announced today the appointment of Derek Smith as President of the Hospital Group. Mr. Smith has extensive senior management experience in patient monitoring, ventilation and critical care both domestically and internationally. Throughout his 26-year career, Smith has held positions of increasing responsibility with companies such as McKesson, Datex-Ohmeda, Inc. and E.Merck. Smith will report to Craig Reynolds, Chief Operating Officer.

Most recently, Smith served as Senior Vice President of Operations and Technology Development for McKesson Health Solutions. In this role he was responsible for all the operations and technology development for McKesson’s disease management and triage services as well as their Medical Management Software Products. In 1999, Smith joined McKesson’s Access Health business unit where he served as Senior Vice President/General Manager.

Smith also spent 15 years with Datex-Ohmeda, Inc. in positions of increasing responsibility including several general management assignments, focusing on patient monitoring and critical care ventilation. His management experience spans all functional areas including marketing, sales, service, research and development, quality and regulatory affairs.

Under Smith’s leadership, the Hospital Group will be comprised of three existing Respironics business units: Critical Care led by Paul Woodring, Children’s Medical Ventures led by Bill Thompson and Respiratory Drug Delivery led by Susan Lloyd. Woodring, Thompson and Lloyd will report to Smith.

John L. Miclot, President and CEO of Respironics, said, “Derek Smith’s significant experience in the markets that Respironics serves will be a valuable asset in building our hospital business and in creating collaborative research, product development and sales initiatives among these business units.”

Commenting on the formation of the Hospital Group, Miclot added, “This is consistent with our organizing philosophy to provide greater focus and agility in key market segments while also providing opportunities for greater collaboration.”

About Respironics

Respironics is a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of innovative products and programs that serve the global sleep and respiratory markets. Focusing on emerging market needs, the Company is committed to providing valued solutions to help improve outcomes for patients, clinicians and health care providers. Respironics markets its products in more than 125 countries and employs 3,800 associates worldwide. Further information can be found on the Company’s Web site: http://www.respironics.com

This document contains forward-looking statements, including statements relating to, among other things, developments in the healthcare industry; the success of the Company’s marketing, sales, and promotion programs; future sales and acceptance of the Company’s products and programs; the timing and success of new product introductions; new product development; anticipated cost savings; FDA and other regulatory requirements and enforcement actions; future results from acquisitions; acquisition integration; growth rates in foreign markets; regulations and other factors affecting operations and sales outside the United States (including potential future effects of the change in sovereignty of Hong Kong); foreign currency fluctuations; customer consolidation and concentration; increasing price competition and other competitive factors in the sale of products; interest rate fluctuations; expiration of intellectual property rights; intellectual property and related litigation; other litigation; future levels of earnings and revenues; and third party reimbursement, all of which are subject to change. Actual results may differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results are included in the reports filed with the SEC, including the reports on Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K.

Respironics, Inc.

CONTACT: Dan Bevevino, Vice President & CFO, +1-724-387-5235, or MaryellenBizzack, Director, Marketing & Comm., +1-724-387-5006, both of Respironics,Inc.; or Analyst Information - Joe Calabrese, +1-212-827-3772, or Julie Tu,+1-212-827-3776, both of Financial Relations Board