ZURICH, Switzerland, March 5, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Nobel Biocare announced today the appointment of Dr. Dirk Kirsten (39) as new Chief Financial Officer and member of the Executive Committee. He will assume his new role in the first half 2008. Kirsten, a Swiss/German citizen, will join Nobel Biocare from Syngenta where he has been Group Treasurer since 2005. Prior to that he was with Roche as Head of Group Funding & Capital Markets, Deutsche Bank as Director of Corporate Finance and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Dirk Kirsten has a broad background in finance and a proven track record in senior finance positions at large publicly listed companies. He holds a masters degree in economy from the University of Cologne and the London Business School, as well as a PhD in banking/management from the University of Cologne. Dirk Kirsten will replace Dr. Thomas Bogli, who has decided to pursue other opportunities outside the company.
Nobel Biocare today also announced the appointment of Dr. Hans Schmotzer (48) as Head of Research and Development and member of the Executive Committee. Hans Schmotzer, a German citizen, will take up his new post starting latest in September of 2008. He joins the company from Plus Orthopedics AG, which was recently acquired by Smith & Nephew. He has held various senior positions in research and development, most recently as Director Research and Head Intellectual Property. Prior to that he was Director of Orthopedic Research Laboratory at the University of Southern California and Director of Orthopedic Research at a leading hospital in California. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and a PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. In addition, he is a visiting professor at the University of Bath, UK, and is the author of numerous scientific papers.
Domenico Scala, CEO said: "I am particularly pleased that we have been able to strengthen our executive management with the appointment of these two outstanding professionals. Dirk, with whom I have successfully worked in the past, has an in-depth grasp of finance and, going forward, will strengthen our financing operations. Hans brings with him an ideal combination of experience in research with a leading orthopedics company and clinical experience from his work in hospitals."
For more information about Nobel Biocare, visit www.nobelbiocare.com
Nobel Biocare is a medical devices group and the world leader in innovative esthetic dental solutions with its brands Branemark System(r), NobelReplace(tm), NobelSpeedy(tm), NobelPerfect(r), NobelDirect(r), Replace Select (dental implants), Procera(r) (individualized dental prosthetics), NobelGuide(tm) (complete patient rehabilitation program) and NobelSmile(tm) (patient education and awareness program). Nobel Biocare is a total solution provider for restorative esthetic dentistry, offering a wide range of innovative Crown & Bridge & Implant products, as well as training and education, patient information and clinically documented treatment concepts. Nobel Biocare has over 2,200 employees and recorded revenue of EUR 665.9 million in 2007. The Company is domiciled and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Production takes place at five production sites located in Sweden, the US and Japan. Nobel Biocare has direct sales organizations in 36 countries. The shares of the parent company Nobel Biocare Holding AG are listed on SWX Swiss Exchange and OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm, Sweden.