Five-Minute Interview

A Most likely I would be communicating and reaching out in my role as CEO: holding a meeting, answering e-mail or talking on the phone. I need to speak frequently with those responsible for various company function, so I might be discussing financials with the CFO, reviewing a commercial agreement with sales or evaluating a new equipment purchase with operations.
 

A I am relatively new to the medical device industry, having taken my current position in 2008. Before that I was a management consultant with a generalist background. I was consulting for the Saes Group when it acquired Memry Corp. in 2008, and I was given the opportunity to join Saes.

 

From the perspective of a newcomer—and a supplier—this is certainly an interesting industry with solid fundamentals: an ageing population, new technologies and emerging markets. The supply chain is relatively fragmented, offering opportunities for niche positioning. Still the price pressure is increasing, and as a supplier we are challenged to continuously increase our efficiency in an environment with significant constraints.

 

A The possibility of offering our modest contribution to improving patients’ lives by becoming better in what we do, the continuous challenge of driving a business forward and, as in every job, the gratification of actions well done and decisions well taken.

 

A I believe the Palmaz-Schatz coronary stent ranks very high in terms of overall relevance within the medical device market, and especially within the interventional sector. Millions of patients have benefited from this important development. The stent has changed the way interventional cardiology is routinely practiced and set the stage for critical future technologies such as drug elution and resorbable stenting.

 

A This is a very open question, but I would say that professionals should be more inquisitive. Don't be afraid to say, “I do not know,” or to ask the right questions. I greatly appreciate this attitude among the people I work with.

 

A Interventional devices aimed at the structural heart disease market are generating a great deal of excitement within the industry. Percutaneous methods for replacing aortic valves and repairing mitral valves are evolving rapidly. As it stands, this patient population is woefully underserved and the potential benefit to society from these applications is immense.

 

A I am a supplier, so you should ask my customers (who are mainly medical device OEMs). As a supplier, we strive to be true technical partners with our customers, and bring them a focused offer—nitinol—that supports their innovation. And, of course, you have to be competitive on price, quality and delivery times if you want to be part of the game.

 

Nicola Di Bartolomeo is CEO of Memry Corp., a global supplier of nitinol-based products. The company is located at Am Kesselhaus 5, D-79576 Weil am Rhein, Germany

Tel. +49 7621 799 121

E-mail: europe@memry.com