Optos Appoints Roy Davis as Chief Executive Officer
11/14/2008
LONDON, 14 November 2008 – Optos plc (LSE: OPTS), the leading medical retinal imaging technology company, is pleased to announce that Mr Roy Davis, the former Chief Executive Officer of Gyrus Group plc, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer with effect from 17 November 2008. Mr Thomas W. Butts has left the Company to pursue other interests. He leaves with the best wishes of the Board.
Commenting Dr John Padfield, Chairman of the Board, Optos plc, said: “The Board is delighted to welcome Roy as the CEO of the Company. He has extensive experience of leading a public, global, medical product and service business and has a broad range of operating experience, notably in the USA. The Board is looking forward to working with Roy in enhancing our strategic vision and in continuing to grow.”
About Roy Davis
Mr Davis was most recently Chief Executive Officer of Gyrus Group plc, the quoted leading medical device company that was acquired by the Olympus Corporation of Japan in February 2008. Before becoming CEO of Gyrus he served as Chief Operating Officer of the company from 2003 having been a Non Executive Director since the company’s flotation in 1997. Prior to his executive roles in Gyrus, Mr Davis was CEO of NTera Ltd, an Irish nanotechnology company and before that Global Head of the Operations Management Practice and Managing Director for the UK and Scandinavia of the telecommunications, information, media and electronics business of Arthur D Little Inc., the global management consulting company. He graduated as a mechanical engineer and obtained an MBA at London Business School.
About Optos plc
Optos plc is a leading medical retinal imaging technology company. Both eye and non-eye diseases often first exhibit in the periphery of the retina. These are very difficult to detect clinically with conventional examination equipment and techniques. Optos' devices produce ultra wide-field, high resolution images of approximately 82% of the retina, something no other device is capable of doing in any one image. The images provide optometrists and ophthalmologists with enhanced clinical information which facilitates the early detection, management and treatment of disorders and diseases evidenced in the retina such as retinal detachments and tears, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Retinal imaging can also indicate evidence of non-eye or systemic diseases such as hypertension and certain cancers. Optos has a range of medical devices that support different customer segments and patient levels: P200 device is concentrated on wellness screening carried out by optometrists and ophthalmologists in primary care; P200C device is designed to meet the need for more exacting clinical imaging capabilities and standards in secondary care within the ophthalmology market and at optometric practices that are clinically managing a patient base with advanced ocular disease; P200MA device supports retinal specialists, working primarily with a diabetic patient base, in the medical care market through an advanced medical angiography procedure. Optos' technology provides an unequalled combination of wide-field retinal imaging, speed and convenience for the practitioner and patient resulting in more targeted treatment regimes and improved patient outcomes. This can help save sight and save lives. Optos estimates that it is addressing a market opportunity with a combined $4 billion potential.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates and projections about its industry, its beliefs and assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions shareholders and prospective shareholders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.
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