dj Orthopedics to Be Named One of San Diego's Fastest Growing Technology Companies in the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 50 Program

dj Orthopedics Appoints Medical Device Industry Veteran Louis Ruggiero As Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- dj Orthopedics, Inc. (NYSE: DJO), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of products and services for the orthopedic sports medicine market, today announced the appointment of Louis Ruggiero as senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Commenting on the appointment, Les Cross, president and CEO of dj Orthopedics said, "Lou has an extensive and impressive track record for consistently delivering positive results and we are quite pleased to have him on board as we execute our growth strategy. Over the past year, we have greatly improved our financial performance, and with improving profitability, we are focused on top-line sales performance. I am confident that Lou's organizational development abilities in sales and marketing, combined with his critical thinking and leadership dynamics will play an important role in the success of our organization moving forward."

"I am extremely pleased to join dj Orthopedics in this important leadership role," said Mr. Ruggiero. "Outstanding quality, world-class operations and an energized high-performance culture have distinguished the Company as an innovative industry leader."

Mr. Ruggiero brings more than 20 years of sales experience in medical devices, with more than half of his tenure in management roles. Since 2000, Mr. Ruggiero has served as president and CEO of Titan Scan Technologies, a subsidiary of Titan Corporation, a leader in electron beam technology for medical device sterilization, mail sanitization and industrial processes.

From 1990 to 2000, Mr. Ruggiero was employed by GE Medical Systems, a global leader in medical diagnostic imaging, healthcare IT, productivity solutions, services and financing. He most recently served as director of corporate alliances, and in this capacity he oversaw multi-functional team and business development activities including strategy, financial analysis, sales execution and negotiation for the U.S. field sales, that delivered comprehensive corporate agreements for all GE Medical Systems products and services as well as other GE companies and acquisitions. Prior to 1990, Mr. Ruggiero was employed by Davol, Inc., a division of C.R. Bard, Inc., a global leader in single use surgical products and implantable oncology devices, where he served as sales manager in the northeast district. He has also held field sales positions with American V. Mueller, a division of American Hospital Supply, and Proctor & Gamble. Mr. Ruggiero received his undergraduate degree in Interpersonal Communication/Political Science in 1980 from St. John's University, New York and his MBA from the J.L. Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL in 2000.

About dj Orthopedics, Inc.

dj Orthopedics is a global orthopedic sports medicine company specializing in the design, manufacture and marketing of products and services that rehabilitate soft tissue and bone, help protect against injury, and treat osteoarthritis of the knee. Its broad range of more than 600 existing products, many of which are based on proprietary technologies includes rigid knee braces, soft goods, specialty and other complementary orthopedic products. These products provide solutions for patients and orthopedic sports medicine professionals throughout the patient's continuum of care.

This press release contains or may contain forward-looking statements such as statements regarding the Company's future growth and profitability, growth strategy and trends in the industry in which the Company operates. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are the risk that we may not be able to successfully implement our business strategy or our corporate performance improvement program, or that other risk factors could undermine gains made with our strategies and programs, including our ability to successfully develop or license and timely introduce and market new products or product enhancements; our dependence on our orthopedic professionals, agents and distributors for marketing our products; competition in our markets; our transition to direct distribution of our products in certain foreign countries; risks associated with our acquisition strategy and international operations; the risk that our quarterly operating results are subject to substantial fluctuations; our high level of indebtedness and the restrictions imposed by the terms of our indebtedness; our ability to generate cash to service our debts; the effects of healthcare reform, managed care and buying groups on prices of our products; the uncertainty of domestic and foreign regulatory clearance and approval of our products; the sensitivity of our business to general economic conditions; uncertainty relating to third party reimbursement; pending litigation; and the other risk factors that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 28, 2003 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE dj Orthopedics, Inc.
-0- 08/26/2003
(DJO)
CO: dj Orthopedics, Inc.
ST: California
IN: MTC BIO HEA SPT
SU: PER

JA
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7936 08/26/2003 07:55 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com

Company Investor/Media Contact:
DJO Incorporated
Mark Francois
Director of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
760-734-4766

Mark.Francois[at]djoglobal[dot]com