Acarix, a leader in acoustic and AI-based cardiac diagnostics, announces that CEO Helen Ljungdahl Round will be taking a temporary medical leave of absence to address a treatable form of cancer. Her expected duration of absence is approximately six months. The Board has with immediate effect appointed Fred Colen as Acting CEO during Helen’s absence.
Fred Colen has a 40-year career in the cardiovascular field including leading positions as CEO of St. Jude Medical in Sweden, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Boston Scientific, President of Boston Scientifics Cardiac Rhythm Management Group ($2.3 billion revenue business unit with 14,000 employees), Board Member of Mölnlycke Healthcare and numerous CEO and Board roles in smaller ventures. In his last position as CEO and President of Neovasc Inc, Fred was able to raise 100 million USD in capital and successfully lead the company through an acquisition by Shockwave Medical, which closed in April 2023. Fred is currently Chairman of the Board of Xeltis AG and Member of the Board of Onward, a Euronext public company.
Fred was born in 1952, has an MSc in Electrical Engineering with specialization in Medical Technology, from the University of Aachen, and is a citizen of the Netherlands but permanently resides in the USA.
“The Board is very pleased to have been able to attract Fred Colen on a short notice as acting CEO of Acarix while Helen is off on temporary leave. Helen is in good medical hands, and we wish her a rapid recovery. Fred mission is to continue to execute on Acarix strategic plan with his extensive C-level operating experience and a global network from running both early stage and multi- billion-dollar global cardiac medical device businesses”, comments Philip Siberg, Chairman of the Board of Acarix AB.
”I am very excited to help bring Acarix portfolio of sophisticated diagnostic tools further into the market and to contribute to its success. Helen and her team have done an impressive job in the early commercialization, and I believe I can contribute by leading the team to further penetrate the US market in particular and to continue to make progress with respect to reimbursement”, comments Fred Colen, new Acting CEO of Acarix AB.
Furthermore, CFO Christian Lindholm has been appointed Executive Vice President with signatory rights to maintain efficient operations in Sweden and Denmark.
