Cepheid Announces Executive Vice President Emerging Markets

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) today announced that Philippe Jacon, currently CEO of the Foundation of Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), will join Cepheid in January 2013 in the newly created position of Executive Vice President of Emerging Markets. In his new position, Mr. Jacon will be responsible for Cepheid’s emerging commercial opportunities in Asia Pacific, India, Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Additionally, he will be responsible for the High Burden Developing Country (HBDC) program.

“Philippe brings more than two decades of commercial diagnostics and medical experience to the Cepheid team,” said John Bishop, Cepheid’s Chief Executive Officer. “Combined with his most recent experience in the not-for-profit diagnostics business, Philippe is an excellent addition to lead our Emerging Markets group and I look forward to welcoming him to the team in early January.”

Mr. Jacon will be joining Cepheid from FIND where he worked extensively with Cepheid’s team on the HBDC program. Previously, he was Director General of the European Diagnostics Manufacturers Association and Worldwide President of Becton Dickinson Diagnostics Systems, where he spent most of his career in a variety of businesses, geographies and executive positions.

“With more than eight hundred systems placed in less than two years, the HBDC program clearly highlights the unique potential of the GeneXpert System to contribute accurate and fast molecular diagnostics in some of the most remote locations in the world,” said Philippe Jacon. “If this system can change lives in HBDCs, its potential in more developed, commercial markets is truly significant. I look forward to driving adoption of the GeneXpert System and the growing menu of Xpert tests in both commercial and HBDC markets.”

About Cepheid

Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) is a leading molecular diagnostics company that is dedicated to improving healthcare by developing, manufacturing, and marketing accurate yet easy-to-use molecular systems and tests. By automating highly complex and time-consuming manual procedures, the company’s solutions deliver a better way for institutions of any size to perform sophisticated genetic testing for organisms and genetic-based diseases. Through its strong molecular biology capabilities, the company is focusing on those applications where accurate, rapid, and actionable test results are needed most, such as managing infectious diseases and cancer. For more information, visit http://www.cepheid.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are not purely historical regarding Cepheid’s or its management’s intentions, beliefs, expectations and strategies for the future, including those relating to future business expansion and financial results. Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from the Company’s current expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as those relating to: the growth of the HBDC program and sales in developing global markets; long sales cycles in such markets; obtaining regulatory clearances to sell our products in various countries; matters relating to personnel; unforeseen supply, development and manufacturing problems; the Company’s reliance on distributors in some regions to market, sell and support its products; the Company’s ability to manage geographically-dispersed operations; and underlying market conditions worldwide. Readers should also refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Cepheid’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and its other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements and reasons why results might differ included in this release are made as of the date of this press release, based on information currently available to Cepheid, and Cepheid assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement or reasons why results might differ.

SOURCE Cepheid