The president of Smith & Nephew’s Orthopedics division is leaving the company in the wake of a reorganization that’s been announced internally.
“There’s nothing to tell, aside from me leaving S&N,” said Joseph DeVivo in an email.
DeVivo, 44, assumed his current role in May 2008 after starting with the company as head of its Orthopaedic Reconstruction & Trauma unit the previous June. DeVivo also serves as chair of the Memphis Chamber, a role he assumed in November after his predecessor, FedEx executive Tom Schmitt, moved to Canada to work for a FedEx competitor.
As with his executive position, it’s not clear what will happen with DeVivo’s chamber chairmanship.
“I don’t know,” said Christina Meek, the chamber’s communications specialist.
John Moore, the chamber’s CEO, told her the executive committee will meet to discuss DeVivo’s role and go from there.
“I’m assuming they’ll meet soon, as soon as possible, and then they’ll decide,” she said.
After the meeting, the chamber is likely to issue a statement. Meek would not comment on S&N’s reorganization and directed all inquiries back to the company.
S&N is one of Memphis’ largest employers, with about 2,100 local people working at its Brooks Road plant and the corporate headquarters on Goodlett Farms Parkway. The London-based company’s other divisions include Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management and are headquartered elsewhere.
Orthopaedics is the largest of S&N’s three business groups, bringing in 55 percent of the company’s annual revenue. Of the nearly $4 billion the three groups generated in 2010, approximately $2.2 billion came from Orthopaedic Reconstruction & Trauma, whose revenue also grew 3 percent from 2009, according to the company’s latest annual report.
S&N spokesman Andrew Burns said Orthopaedics is going to be combined with Endoscopy “as a strategy to get a more focused organization in the marketplace.” The new division will be called the Advanced Surgical Devices Division.
It will be headed by Michael G. Frazzette, also 44, who already leads the Endoscopy unit in Andover, Massachuesettes. Frazzette recently was appointed a member of S&N’s Group Executive Committee in addition to being named president of Advanced Surgical Devices.
“Smith & Nephew is fortunate to have added an individual of Mike’s caliber and background to lead our Endoscopy Division,” said S&N COO David Illingworth, in a company news release. “With a clear understanding of the healthcare market, Mike will be instrumental in helping us build an even stronger leadership position in the arthroscopic marketplace. I look forward to his contributions.”
As for any jobs leaving Memphis, Burns said no.
“We have no plans to do that,” he said.
DeVivo’s last day on the job is Aug. 5. Frazzette began his new position on July 5 in Andover, according to the same release.
