CARLSBAD, Calif.--Sunrise Medical Chairman Michael Hammes announced the appointment of Michael N. Cannizzaro as vice chairman, president and CEO on Thursday. Cannizzaro will also join the company's board of directors.
Cannizzaro has served as CEO of several health care businesses, including Insight Health Services, National Nephrology Associates and Beltone Electronics. Most recently, he was operating partner at J.W. Childs Associates, a Boston-based private equity firm, where he advised on acquisition and management of a variety of health care companies.
In a company statement, Hammes said the timing of Cannizzaro's appointment "relates directly to the evolution of our business strategy and direction."
In May, the company announced it will operate as two separate organizations, Sunrise Mobility and DeVilbiss Healthcare. (See HomeCare Monday, May 14.)
Cannizzaro will be directly responsible for leading the mobility business, including its Quickie, Sopur and Jay brands, as well as the recently integrated A.R.T Operations (Artistry in Rehab Technology). In addition, he will oversee DeVilbiss Healthcare, which will continue to be managed by President and CEO Kees Regeling.
"Since the time of our going private we have significantly improved our cost and market positions," Hammes said. "As a further strategic evolution, we determined that creating separate, focused businesses would improve long-term prospects and management focus. This has been the driving force behind our spin-offs of DynaVox Systems and Joerns Healthcare as well as the creation of separate organizations for Sunrise Mobility and DeVilbiss Healthcare."
Cannizzaro said he hopes to develop the businesses "into even stronger global competitors."