William Cruise, vice president of west Europe business development at the healthcare business group at 3M, has been appointed as chairman of Medilink UK.
Cruise, who replaces outgoing chairman, Gary Stapleton, has a career spanning 30 years, the majority of which has been spent outside the UK.
This has seen him work in several of 3M’s business areas, including industrial markets, electrical and healthcare, across Germany, Asia Pacific, Belgium, and the US.
He has been president of two of 3M’s six healthcare divisions: the orthodontics division and critical and chronic care division, based at the company headquarters in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Cruise said: “Life sciences is right at the forefront of the Government’s growth agenda, and set against an emerging industrial strategy means it is an incredibly-important time for the sector.
“Medilink UK is the UK’s-largest life sciences professional association and, as such, is an important part in ensuring the sector grows and that value is added to UK PLC - by allowing innovation to thrive and in turn transforming healthcare.”
Nick Rodgers was appointed vice chairman and is an experienced non-executive director and chairman with a background as a successful corporate financier and business enabler.
He has considerable experience of businesses in the healthcare, medical, biotechnology, environmental, and technology sectors.