Spinal Surgery, Cement Systems - Orthoworld

EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW
Glen Kashuba
Senior Vice President of Biomet, Inc.,
President of Biomet Spine • Biomet Trauma
Glen Kashuba is the Senior Vice President of Biomet, Inc. and President of Biomet
Spine • Biomet Trauma. With nearly 25 years of experience in the medical industry, he
has been at the helm of Biomet Spine • Biomet Trauma since April 2007. Prior to
Biomet, Mr. Kashuba had worked for Johnson & Johnson for nine years. He served as
Worldwide President of Cordis Endovascular, Worldwide President of Codman Neuro
Science and U.S. President of DePuy AcroMed, now known as DePuy Spine. Mr.
Kashuba also held several key management positions during his eleven years with
Howmedica/Pfizer.
ORTHOPAEDIC PRODUCT NEWS (OPN): You took the helm of
Biomet Spine • Biomet Trauma about two years ago. How would you
summarize those first two years?
Exhibit 1: Biomet’s Pathway To Growth
Glen Kashuba (GK): It is fair to say we had some work to do.
The business had stagnated and the organizational environment
was chaotic. We needed to focus and rebuild the foundation. I
viewed this as the first step on a “Pathway To Growth.”
Fortunately, despite the bedlam, many good people stayed with
the organization. We also hired senior leadership, those who
have worked in the spine and trauma businesses for many years.
We concentrated on the most critical fundamentals: supply chain
management, sales force recruitment and launching new products.
By the end of the first year of the rebuilding process (mid-
2008), we had repaired the business and were in a position to
begin the second phase of the “Pathway To Growth,” a re-launch
of the company. We focused on building our R&D portfolio and
reconnecting with the surgeon community. We increased the size
and breadth of our R&D department. We began several important
new projects with surgeon thought leaders. We actively pursued
internal R&D feasibility investigations with major academic
institutions. Our L&A activities significantly increased. In
addition, we committed to support our product portfolio by
increasing our surgeon education presence.
By the end of the re-launch phase, in mid-2009, we had stabilized
the trauma business and had achieved strong growth in
spine. We feel the re-launch of this company has succeeded.
Now we will move into a new phase, one of accelerated growth
for our spine and trauma businesses, as well as our bracing and
bone growth stimulation lines. (See Exhibit 1.)
continued on page 19
18 ORTHOPAEDIC PRODUCT NEWS • September/October 2009