DSM Biomedical Leadership Team
Steve Hartig
President, DSM Biomedical
Bob Ward
President and CEO, DSM PTG
Kathleen A. White
Vice President Operations, DSM PTG
Robert Evans
Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing, DSM PTG
Kristi Prado
Vice President of Ophthalmic Business, DSM PTG
Donato Di Biase
Business Director, Drug Delivery & Regenerative Medicine, DSM Biomedical
D. John Marugg
Business Director for Medical Coatings, DSM Biomedical
Leo Smit
Business Director for Implant Solutions, DSM Biomedical
Marc Hendriks
R&D and Technology Director, DSM Biomedical
Steve Hartig, President, DSM Biomedical
Steve Hartig currently serves as President of DSM Biomedical, a leading supplier of materials solutions to the medical device and biopharmaceutical industries, and has held that position since 2006. He is responsible for the business’ global activities which are conducted in Geleen, The Netherlands and Berkley, CA, USA. Steve has a nineteen-year long history with DSM, having served in different positions across various business units. Most recently, Steve was President of DSM Desotech, a world leader and innovator in specialty materials that are cured by ultraviolet light, as well as coatings for fiber optics and materials for rapid prototyping. Prior to presiding over DSM Desotech, Steve was Sales and Marketing Manager for the U.S. automotive industry at DSM Engineering Plastics, a position he began in 1990. While at DSM Engineering Plastics, Steve also served as Arnitel/Arnite Business Manager and as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and R&D. Previously, Steve worked at DuPont for ten years with responsibilities in manufacturing, sales and development. Steve studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan and resides in the south of The Netherlands with his family.
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Bob Ward, President and CEO, DSM PTG
Bob Ward is a chemical engineer and the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DSM PTG, formerly known as The Polymer Technology Group in Berkeley, California, USA, a company he founded in 1989. He is also Chairman and CEO of Emergence LLC, a Life Science Incubator. DSM PTG’s business includes custom synthesis and R&D, as well as the manufacturing of biomaterials, specialty polymers and medical devices. DSM PTG uses a unique vertically integrated approach ranging from molecular design to the clean room manufacturing of medical devices and components. Bob has been an innovator over his 38-year career in biomaterials, which includes seven years at Avco Medical Products, where he produced Avcothane-51, one of the first polymers ever developed as a biomaterial. He has developed a wide range of medical devices and patented polymer compositions of matter that are currently in clinical use, including chronically implanted biomaterials and components for cardiovascular, urological, ophthalmic and orthopaedic applications. Bob is the recipient of several industry awards, including the Excellence in Surface Science Award from the Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation (2006) and the Technology Innovation and Development Award from the Society for Biomaterials (2003). In 2004, he was named one of Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry’s 100 most notable people in the medical device industry.
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Kathleen A. White, Vice President Operations, DSM PTG
Kathleen White, a biomedical engineer, is the Vice President of Operations for DSM PTG, formerly known as The Polymer Technology Group (PTG), which she co-founded in 1989. In her first position with PTG, Kathleen served as Laboratory Director and oversaw all aspects of R&D and project management. In 1997, she was promoted to Director of Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs, where she developed and implemented PTG’s quality system and achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification. Nine years later, Kathleen was promoted to Vice President Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs and was successful in achieving ISO 13485:2003 certification for the medical device component business within PTG. Kathleen began her career in biomaterials as a Quality Control Technician at Avco Medical Products in 1978. The following year, she joined Thoratec Corporation, where she remained for ten years. While at Thoratec, Kathleen served as Analytical Technician and later as Manager of the Analytical Chemistry Department of the Mercor Division, and Vice President of Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs. Kathleen has been a principal investigator on two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts awarded by The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the government agency responsible for biomedical and health-related research. In addition, Kathleen has authored or co-authored over 20 articles and abstracts, two book chapters and holds three patents in the field of biomaterials. Kathleen received her Biomedical Engineering degree from Western New England College and studied graduate level chemistry at San Francisco State University.
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Robert Evans, Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing, DSM PTG
Robert Evans currently serves as the Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at DSM PTG, where he is responsible for development and execution of the company’s global strategic business development efforts. Since 1996, Robert has played a key role across several of DSM’s international business units through various sales and marketing positions. Most recently, Robert was the Global Sales and Marketing Director, based in the Netherlands, for DSM Dyneema’s Life Protection division, where he successfully deployed corporate strategies, increased company profitability, created new business opportunities and implemented strategic marketing tactics for DSM Dyneema’s product line. He directed and oversaw all sales and marketing activities in the EMEA, Americas and Asia Pacific business regions. Previously, Robert spent three years as Product Manager for DSM Engineering Plastics, where he directed and oversaw all marketing aspects, built and led a product team, and launched four new products. While at DSM Engineering Plastics, Robert also held sales manager and color technology manager positions. Robert holds an MBA from the University of Southern Indiana (Evansville) and a bachelor's degree in chemistry from George Mason University (Fairfax, Va.).
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Kristi Prado, Vice President of Ophthalmic Business, DSM PTG
Kristi joined The Polymer Technology Group, now DSM PTG, in 2001 as its Director of Business Development, bringing with her over 15 years of business management experience. In 2004, she became PTG’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, spearheading sales efforts for its line of biomedical polymers, including a growing line of new specialty silicones for use in contact lenses. Her experience in negotiating complex business agreements, including licenses, research contracts and supply contracts along with her ability to establish strategic partnerships, has been a key part of the company’s success. Kristi assumed her current role in 2008 managing the ophthalmic business which has grown to become more than 60% of the company’s total revenue. In addition to contact lenses, the company’s products are used in lens care solutions and intraocular lenses. Prior to joining DSM PTG, Kristi served as Director Marketing and Product Development for The BOC Group, Inc., where she successfully led the team that introduced breakthrough plasma deposition technology to the glass coating industry. Kristi holds a B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
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Donato Di Biase, Business Director, Drug Delivery & Regenerative Medicine, DSM Biomedical
Donato Di Biase is Business Director at DSM Biomedical where he is responsible for the company’s efforts to develop materials solutions for drug delivery and regenerative medicine. Donato has held various commercial and operation management roles over the past 15 years in companies active in biomedical materials and medical diagnostics. Before joining DSM Biomedical in 2007, Donato served as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer at Hemoteq AG, a leading provider of surface modification solutions for medical devices. In this position, he played an integral role in reorganizing the company from one with a scientific-oriented focus to one with a market -and product-oriented focus. While at Hemoteq AG, Donato also implemented long-term corporate identity, and sales and marketing strategies with an emphasis on international markets. Prior to Hemoteq GmbH, Donato was the Sales and Marketing Manager for Creatogen AG, a company active in the field of vaccine development and microbiological diagnostic tests. Previously, Donato served as Marketing Manger for Creatogen Biosciences GmbH and Branch Manager for RADIM S.p.A., a manufacturer of diagnostic equipment and test kits. Donato studied chemistry at the University of Siegen, Germany and Medicine at the University of Chieti, Italy. Donato also holds a Master’s degree in Biology from University Giessen, Germany.
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D. John Marugg, Business Director for Medical Coatings, DSM Biomedical
Dr. John Marugg is the Business Director at DSM Biomedical where he is responsible for the medical coatings business and managing its business development team. John has worked with DSM since 1991 in various Sales and Marketing positions. He most recently served as Director of Marketing and Sales/VP of Business Development for DSM Biologics, where he was responsible for all business development activities, strategic planning and process implementation. Prior to his role as Sales/VP of Business Development, John was the Director of Business Strategy and Acquisitions at DSM Fine Chemicals, where he was responsible for strategic planning for various business units. In his 18 years with the company, he has negotiated various multi-year development, technology license and manufacturing deals with large pharmaceutical and biotech companies, settled disputes and potential litigation matters with suppliers and customers with high-risk exposures. John holds two patents and has over 13 published editorial pieces in top scientific journals. John holds a PhD, Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Leiden, the Netherlands.
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Leo Smit, Business Director for Implant Solutions, DSM Biomedical
Leo Smit is the Business Director at DSM Biomedical, where he is responsible for the product development and marketing of several polymeric materials for use in medical applications. Specifically, Leo provides leadership over business development teams for Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWP) technology, elastomeric and rigid materials, and the sales team of Dyneema Purity®. Leo has served in various roles across DSM business units for more than twenty years, beginning in 1988 with Royal DSM N.V. as an Internal Mixing Consultant, where he led research projects aimed at the design and optimization of industrial chemical and polymer reactors. In 1991, Leo assumed the position of Group Leader for Chemical Reactor Technology, and in 1994 he became the Manager for Polyolefin Process Technology. From 1993-2000, Leo served as New Business Development Manager and Medical Business Manager for DSM Dyneema. During this eight year span, he helped launch Dyneema Purity®, a UHMWP high-performance fiber technology in medical applications. Leo’s leadership helped guide Dyneema Purity® to become an essential component in many medical devices and one that is currently used by all major suppliers of orthopaedic sutures. In 1998, Leo was recognized for his achievements as a recipient of the Hoogewerff Youth Award, a distinguished award given to young chemical engineers. Leo has served as a member of the Board of the Nederlandse Proces Technologen (NPT), where he worked to coordinate various efforts on behalf of the Dutch Society for Engineers (KIVI/NIRIA) and the Dutch Society for Chemists. In addition, Leo has contributed on six patent filings.
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Marc Hendriks, R&D and Technology Director, DSM Biomedical
Marc Hendriks is the R&D and Technology Director for DSM Biomedical. In his current position, Marc provides scientific and strategic leadership in establishing the company’s R&D portfolio and ensuring that it encompasses the development of novel polymeric materials and material technologies for the enhancement of existing and creation of new biomedical products or therapies. Marc joined DSM Biomedical in 2006 after spending 15 years at Medtronic’s Bakken Research Center in Maastricht, the Netherlands. During his time with Medtronic, Marc served in various roles including Research Director, where he led various R&D projects on surface modification technologies, drug delivery and cross-linking technologies for bioprosthetic tissues; Manager of Biomaterials Technology; Scientist and Engineer. Marc holds over 25 U.S. Patents, with several more pending. He has also co-authored over thirty journal articles and various book chapters in the field of biomedical materials research. Marc received both his PhD and Masters of Science degrees from Eindhoven University of Technology and holds an MBA from University Maastricht Business School.
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