CLARENCE, N.Y., May 7, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:GB) (the "Company") today announced a number of significant organizational changes positioning its operating, quality and business development segments to align with the growth anticipated by the 2001-2004 Strategic Plan.
In announcing the organizational changes, Edward F. Voboril, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, stated, "Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc. has an outstanding senior leadership team and significant management depth as a result of our focused succession planning activities. Our new structural alignment will strengthen the existing organization by enabling an enhanced focus on operations, quality and business development."
Curtis F. Holmes, Ph.D. has assumed the position of Group Vice President, Components and President, Greatbatch-Hittman, Inc. The Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc. (WGT) Components Group is established coincident with this appointment by unifying the precision parts segment of the WGT Engineered Components Division with our wholly owned subsidiary, Greatbatch-Hittman, Inc. The combination of these operating segments achieves a "one face to the customer" components business focus. Dr. Holmes will continue to be based in Columbia, Md.
Robert C. Rusin is appointed General Manager, Implantable Power Source Division (IPS). Mr. Rusin's key challenge in his new assignment will be to leverage the combined capabilities of IPS with WGT's Research & Development (R&D) and Corporate Quality functions to ensure that WGT's position as the battery supplier of choice to the Implantable Medical Devices Industry is solidified and expanded.
Steven J. Ebel is appointed General Manager, Electrochem Industries. The combination of a recent strengthening of the energy industry and WGT's second half 2000 acquisition of Battery Engineering, Inc. (BEI) of Canton, Mass., has turned Electrochem Industries into one of WGT's fastest growing business units. Mr. Ebel's knowledge of the industry, the technology and the customers, along with a leadership ability to engage the resources of R&D and Corporate Quality, can be expected to position Electrochem Industries as the continuing industry leader.
Susan M. Bratton, one of WGT's recognized quality champions, has assumed the position of Vice President, Corporate Quality. Ms. Bratton's key objective in this new area of responsibility is to further enhance WGT's quality leadership by strengthening the resource base supporting quality improvement while adding to the tools and systems available to drive continuous improvement.
Peter E. Samek has joined WGT as Vice President, Corporate Development. Mr. Samek has assumed the day-to-day responsibility for all of WGT's external growth initiatives as well as providing oversight and guidance to the strategic planning activities of WGT.
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc., with operations in New York, Maryland and Massachusetts, is a leading developer and manufacturer of power sources and other critical components used in implantable medical devices and other technically demanding applications. Additional information about Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc. is available at http://www.greatbatch.com.
Some of the statements in this press release and other written and oral statements made from time to time by the company and its representatives are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are based on the company's current expectations. The company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements include, among others, dependence upon a limited number of customers, product obsolescence, inability to market current or future products, pricing pressure from customers, reliance on third party suppliers for raw materials, products and subcomponents, fluctuating operating results, inability to maintain high quality standards for our products, challenges to our intellectual property rights, product liability claims, inability to successfully consummate and integrate acquisitions, unsuccessful expansion into new markets, competition, inability to obtain licenses to key technology, regulatory changes or consolidation in the healthcare industry, and other risks and uncertainties described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company assumes no obligations to update forward-looking information included in this press release to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in future operating results, financial conditions or prospects.