SAN DIEGO, Jan 31, 2002 (BW HealthWire) -- dj Orthopedics Inc. (NYSE:DJO), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of products and services for the orthopedic sports medicine market, announced today that Jack R. Blair, 59, has joined the company's board of directors. Blair brings more than 25 years experience in orthopedic manufacturing and international business development and is expected to play a significant role in assisting dj Orthopedics in the implementation of its growth strategy.
"Having worked with Jack in various capacities since 1974, I am delighted to welcome him to our board of directors," said Les Cross, president and CEO of dj Orthopedics. "Jack was instrumental in building Richards Medical Company into one of the industry's pre-eminent orthopedic companies. His leadership, experience and business background will play an integral role in helping dj Orthopedics move forward in achieving our goals."
"I have watched the management team at dj Orthopedics build the company into a market leader that is well positioned for growth, and I am looking forward to being a part of the company's exciting future," said Blair.
From 1980 to 2000, Blair served in various capacities with Smith & Nephew and Richards Medical Company, which was acquired by Smith & Nephew in 1986. Most recently, Blair has been a consultant to Smith & Nephew after serving as group president of its North and South America and Japan operations from 1986 to 1998. From 1982 to 1986, he held the position of president of Richards Medical Company. Prior to that, he was president of Richards' International Division. Before joining Richards Medical Company, Blair served as vice president of planning, business development and marketing for the American Hospital Supply Corp.'s International Division. Blair currently serves on the board of NuVasive Inc., a San Diego-based spinal endoscopy firm.
Blair holds an MBA in finance from the University of California, Los Angeles and a BA in political science from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He lends his time to a number of civic organizations, which includes serving on the community advisory board for Baptist Memorial Hospital and as a trustee for Rhodes College.
dj Orthopedics Inc. is a global orthopedic sports medicine company specializing in the design, manufacture and marketing of surgical and non-surgical products and services that repair, regenerate and rehabilitate soft tissue and bone, help protect against injury, and treat osteoarthritis of the knee. Its broad range of more than 600 products, many of which are based on proprietary technologies, includes rigid knee braces, soft goods, specialty and other complementary orthopedic products and its recently introduced line of surgical products. These products provide solutions for patients and orthopedic sports medicine professionals throughout the patient's continuum of care.
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