Management Team
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John B. Simpson
Chief Executive Officer -
Matt Ferguson
Co-President -
JD Simpson
Co-President -
John Allison
VP Clinical, Regulatory & Quality -
Scott Ashworth
SVP, Sales -
Bunty Banerjee
SVP, Operations -
Bart Beasley
VP of Marketing, Product Dev. -
Bryan Campbell
VP, Marketing Communications -
Steve Davies
VP, Research & Development -
Ted Karmon
VP, US Sales Strategy -
Phil Preuss
VP, Finance & Corporate Dev. -
C. Todd Ransick
VP Brand, Interactive & Creative
Dr. John Simpson has revolutionized the field of medicine through innovations that have fundamentally altered how physicians treat cardiovascular disease. He invented and commercialized the first over-the-wire balloon catheter used for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). This single idea created the field of interventional cardiology as we know it today. Dr. Simpson’s unique approach to patient care and the success of less invasive interventional techniques, specifically PTCA, have generated a multi-disciplinary shift in medicine as ophthalmologists, radiologists, cardiologists, neurologists and surgeons alike have adopted this technique.
Dr. Simpson has a unique ability to recognize unmet clinical needs, generate concepts to address these needs, and transform these concepts into clinically and commercially relevant products. Dr. Simpson has started several companies dedicated to providing patients with the most cutting-edge therapies in a variety of different areas, including directional atherectomy (coronary and peripheral), chronic total occlusions (CTOs), ultrasound, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, suture-mediated vascular closure, and local drug delivery. His companies have sold for +$1.7 billion in aggregate, and include Advanced Cardiovascular Systems (sold to Eli Lilly in 1981 for stock on an earnout basis), Devices for Vascular Intervention (acquired by Eli Lilly in 1990), Perclose (purchased by Abbott in 1999), and FoxHollow Technologies (merged with ev3 in 2007).
Dr. Simpson received his PhD in Immunology from the University of Texas and his MD from Duke University. He completed his fellowship in interventional cardiology at Stanford University. Dr. Simpson is a member of the American College of Physicians and a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He has published extensively on a wide variety of subjects and lectured throughout the world.
Matt Ferguson joined Avinger in December 2010 with a successful track record in the management of growth-stage life sciences and technology businesses.
Prior to joining Avinger, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Tethys Bioscience, a provider of molecular diagnostic tests for cardiometabolic conditions. Prior to Tethys, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Proteolix, a developer of novel drugs for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Proteolix was acquired in 2009 by Onyx Pharmaceuticals. Before Proteolix, Mr. Ferguson served as Chief Financial Officer at FoxHollow Technologies, where he was responsible for the company's 2004 initial public offering and played a significant role in the company's 2007 merger with ev3 inc. Earlier in his career, he held a variety of financial, corporate development and operational positions at ChannelPoint and Hewlett-Packard.
Mr. Ferguson’s educational background includes a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley.
As Co-President, JD Simpson is responsible for Avinger's strategic direction and oversees the Research and Development, Clinical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Affairs, Marketing and Brand Departments.
Previously, Mr. Simpson held the position of Chief Marketing Officer at Avinger. As the Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Simpson was responsible for general business management and oversaw Avinger’s Marketing activities including strategic and operational execution.
Prior to joining Avinger, Mr. Simpson worked at FoxHollow Technologies and also Palo Alto Investors, an independent, privately held investment advisor.
Mr. Simpson holds a B.A. in Sociology from Duke University.
Mr. Allison has over 22 years of experience in Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Affairs. Prior to joining Avinger in February 2013, he was Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Affairs & Quality Assurance at Voyage Medical, Inc. a private company pioneering visually guided ablation in the electrophysiology/atrial fibrillation treatment space. Prior to that he spent five years at Guidant/Boston Scientific and previous to that five years at ADAC laboratories/Philips Medical Systems leading the Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Affairs and Quality Assurance functions. From 1989 to 1999 Mr. Allison held progressively responsible positions in the medical device industry in Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs. He has extensive cardiovascular device experience as well as strong working knowledge in diagnostic imaging, patient monitoring/instrumentation and laser technology.
Mr. Allison holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and a certificate in Clinical Trials Management from UCSC.
As Senior Vice President of Sales, Mr. Ashworth is responsible for building and leading the teams necessary to serve Avinger’s capital and catheter markets.
Prior to joining Avinger, Mr. Ashworth built the foundation for commercialization at HeartFlow Inc. including establishing a global distribution partnership with GE and building a world-class team. He has over 20 years of global experience leading sales and marketing operations for medical imaging and device companies. Before HeartFlow, he served as the Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Service at Siemens Healthcare where he had global responsibility across multiple organizations. Before Siemens, Mr. Ashworth held various leadership roles at Acuson and Hewlett Packard Medical in sales, marketing and business development functions across the US and Asia Pacific. His vast multi-national experience and deep med tech knowledge provide a valuable perspective required to build and lead world class, growth oriented organizations.
As Senior Vice President of Operations, Bunty Banerjee brings 18 years of management experience in the life sciences industry, encompassing disposable devices and capital equipment. Before Avinger, Mr. Banerjee was Vice President of Operations & Quality at Evalve, Inc. where he provided operational leadership from clinical stage to product commercialization. Mr. Banerjee, as part of the leadership team, oversaw the acquisition of Evalve, Inc. by Abbott Laboratories in 2009 and lead the post-acquisition integration and business expansion as Head of Operations at Abbott Vascular, Structural Heart.
Prior to Evalve, Mr. Banerjee served as Plant Manager at Epicor, Inc. (a St. Jude Medical acquisition), holding general management responsibilities including operations, quality, product development, finance, human resources, and providing leadership in product commercialization and new product introductions. Before Epicor, Mr. Banerjee held several operations leadership positions at several newly-acquired, high-growth business units of Boston Scientific. Earlier in his career, Mr. Banerjee held various engineering positions at Crompton-Greaves, Caterpillar, and Larsen-Toubro.
Mr. Banerjee received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Jadavpur University, India and M.S. in Industrial Management from Clemson University, USA.
As Vice President of Marketing, Product Development, Mr. Beasley is responsible for leading Avinger’s market-driven product development efforts. Mr. Beasley has 20 years of sales and marketing experience in roles of increasing responsibility in the medical device business, primarily focused on high-intensity early stage ventures.
Prior to joining Avinger, Mr. Beasley drove all Market Development efforts at Transcend Medical, an early stage, breakthrough ophthalmic technology company revolutionizing the surgical treatment of glaucoma. Before Transcend, Mr. Beasley served as Director of Marketing for FoxHollow Technologies (acquired by EV3) and helped to drive the explosive growth of both the company and peripheral atherectomy. Prior to his role as director, Mr. Beasley gained extensive global field sales experience with the company. Before FoxHollow, he spent 7 years with Perclose, Inc. (acquired by Abbott Vascular) in a variety of both Marketing and Finance roles.
Mr. Beasley holds a BS in Economics from Santa Clara University and an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
As Vice President of Marketing Communications, Bryan Campbell leads the Clinical Education, Medical Affairs, Public Relations, Brand Management, and Web & Mobile Applications teams. Prior to his current role, Mr. Campbell was the Director of Marketing at Avinger.
With a diverse background that included international development and investment banking, Mr. Campbell was a Start-Up Manager for MicroEnsure, a microfinance organization committed to bringing insurance to developing countries in Africa and Asia. Before that, he worked in investment banking focused on mergers & acquisitions, principal investing and capital markets at Goldman, Sachs & Co, Bank of America and Wachovia Securities.
Mr. Campbell holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.A. in Economics from DePauw University.
Mr. Davies joined Avinger in September of 2011 to build and lead a group focused on coronary applications, and he now has responsibility for the entire research & development organization and the development of the IP portfolio.
Prior to joining Avinger, Mr. Davies spent 13 years in the intravascular ultrasound business working on the development of novel disposable imaging devices and their integration with imaging platforms. This work encompassed both coronary and peripheral applications and spanned all stages of development from concept through to commercialization.
Mr. Davies holds a B.S. in Applied Science and an M.S. in Medical Physics from Surrey University, UK.
Mr. Karmon has more than 17 years of sales experience working with a variety of medical device companies in the vascular market.
Prior to joining Avinger, Mr. Karmon was the Director of Sales at FoxHollow Technologies where he was responsible for leading a team of sales professionals that effectively expanded the customer base and significantly increased revenue. Earlier in his career, Mr. Karmon held several positions within various divisions at Guidant Corporation (now part of Boston Scientific and Abbott Labs).
Mr. Karmon holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Western Michigan University.
As the Vice President of Finance and Corporate Development, Phil Preuss handles general business management, strategic operations and partnerships, and finance.
Mr. Preuss spent almost five years in New York City working in equity research, eventually becoming an Associate Director at UBS. During this time, he also supplemented his finance, accounting, and analytical skills by becoming a CFA charterholder. Following his MBA and prior to Avinger, he joined Foxhollow Technologies as a Senior Associate in Corporate Development, where he worked on internal strategic priorities and the exploration of external business opportunities.
Mr. Preuss holds an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management and a B.A. from Stanford University.
Mr. Ransick serves as the leader of Avinger’s brand design, tone, voice and creative expression across all communication vehicles, channels, and regions.
Previously Mr. Ransick spent a decade at Mortar Agency as Co-Founder and Creative Director. Mortar is a San Francisco-based integrated advertising agency with expertise in online and offline advertising, strategy, identity and positioning. Prior to Mortar, he was based out of New York City and held the positions of Regional Creative Director at TMP Worldwide and Omnicom’s Bernard Hodes Group.
Mr. Ransick has produced award winning work for companies including: Aetna, General Electric, J.Crew, Lockheed Martin, Panasonic, W Hotels, Westin Hotels, Sheraton Hotels and the United States Air Force Reserve.
