Vincent Gardès joins Kumovis as chairman of the board
Successful medtech leader with international and entrepreneurial experience to support medical 3D printing start-up
Kumovis, the developer of the world’s first FLM 3D printer built for medical production, today announced that Vincent Gardès, former CEO of Vexim, will be the start-up’s new chairman. With his strong entrepreneurial and international management background combined with many years of experience in the medical device industry, he joins the Kumovis advisory board to support the recently Series A financed start-up’s sustainable development and growth.
Experienced medtech chairman
After joining Stryker Corp. in 1995, Vincent Gardès held various sales and marketing positions of increasing responsibility in Europe for Stryker Orthopedics & Stryker Spine, including the role of the sales director of the Group’s Spanish subsidiary and the global marketing director of the Spine division. In 2002, he joined Medtronic Europe as division director for spine, leading product development and marketing activities. In 2004, he was promoted to director of Medtronic France Spine & Biologics BU, before being in charge of the Southern Europe area in 2007.
In 2008, Vincent Gardès joined CR Bard as GM for Spain & Portugal located in Barcelona.
In 2011, he was appointed CEO of Vexim where he led the company’s IPO in 2012 and managed its clinical, industrial and commercial development. Their top-of-the-line product, SpineJack, became the leading solution to treat vertebral compression fractures in France and number three in Europe. Under his tenure, the company became profitable in 2017. In late 2017, it was sold to Stryker, and Vincent left the company after the transition.
Before Vincent Gardès joined Kumovis, he had held the position of senior partner at the VC firm Truffle Capital for the previous two years. He has also been serving as chairman of the board of Affluent Medical. He holds a BA from INSEEC Business School in Bordeaux and a Master’s degree in Leadership Capability from Glasgow Caledonian University.
Driving 3D printing for personalized medicine
“I am very glad and excited to join Kumovis and help to further develop this very promising company,” said Vincent Gardès. “Its innovation is best in class, the team very talented and committed. And the market continues to trend in the right direction for us.” Kumovis Co-CEO Miriam Haerst added: “We are looking forward to taking the next steps together with Vincent in bringing leading-edge 3D printing technologies to the healthcare sector.” The expanded Kumovis team aims to enter new markets, accelerate growth and drive the use of 3D printing for personalized medicine, small series products as well as functionalized medical devices.
Besides further improving its R1 3D printer and continuing growing the team, Kumovis partners with both technology and material companies to keep the ecosystem for medical 3D printing growing up. The start-up and medical device manufacturers are moreover working in close collaboration to advance medical products for healthcare.