07.03.2005 23:52:00

Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Announces Major Promotions

MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics today announced key leadership promotions and the formation of a new division.

Effective immediately, Steve Hirsch, 53, will move from senior vice president and general manager of the Reconstructive Division to the new position of president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics in Europe. Scott Flora, 49, will move from his duties as senior vice president and general manager of the Trauma Division and assume the role of senior vice president and general manager of the Reconstructive Division. Hirsch and Flora will continue to report to Dave Illingworth, president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics.

Mark Augusti, 39, will be promoted from vice president, Global Trauma Marketing to the role of senior vice president and general manager of the Trauma Division. Joe Woody, 39, will continue to lead Clinical Therapies as vice president and general manager of the newly established Clinical Therapies Division. Augusti and Woody will also report to Illingworth.

"These promotions are an example of our leadership strategy at work," said Illingworth. "We are giving our senior leadership more challenges and opportunities, and promoting the best people to create a more market-focused organization. We believe these major appointments will enable our divisions to make efficient decisions locally based on their customers' specific needs."

Europe

Hirsch will be closely engaged in the drive to expand Smith & Nephew's business in Europe and in expanding the markets in which the company operates. Hirsch's role will also include acquisitions in Europe. "We expect the European market to grow, and in terms of the Birmingham Hip, we expect the market to expand," said Illingworth. "We have an excellent distribution vehicle in place through our sales force, and we will continue to invest in our specialized sales force through Orthopaedics."

Clinical Therapies

Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics' Clinical Therapies, which markets the EXOGEN(TM) bone healing system and SUPARTZ(TM) joint fluid therapy, will become a separate business unit within Orthopaedics. The Clinical Therapies business has grown considerably, 50% in the U.S. and 44% globally in 2004, and now will be able to serve its markets better as a separate business responsible for its own strategy and for strategic marketing.

Reconstruction

Flora joined Smith & Nephew in 1986 and has led the Trauma Division since 2003, where he has been closely involved with the development of a dedicated trauma sales force, leading to strong growth. In 2004, Trauma grew 28% in the U.S. and 18% globally. "Flora's experience in Trauma and with Smith & Nephew make him ideally placed to lead the reconstruction business as Hirsch moves to take up the challenge of the European market," said Illingworth.

Trauma

As the head of Trauma marketing, Augusti established strategies to support the growth aspirations of local management. Marketing strategies increased the number of hospital and medical center accounts where a higher percentage of Trauma procedures are performed and where residents are introduced to Smith & Nephew products for the first time. With this year's introduction of the PERI-LOC(TM) locking plate system for bone repair, the trauma sales force, for the first time, now has a full line of Trauma products to offer.

Notes for editors

Orthopaedics sales, which exceeded $1 billion for the first time ever in 2004, were up 17% for the full year.

The 2004 growth by the Orthopaedics business makes it the fastest-growing orthopaedics reconstructive company for the fifth straight year. In the United States, sales were up 26%, with strong performances across reconstructive implant, trauma and clinical therapy product categories. The acquisition of Midland Medical Technologies (MMT), completed in March 2004, added 5% to Orthopaedics growth in the quarter. The growth includes the acquisition of Midland Medical Technologies.

Steve Hirsch came to Smith & Nephew in 1996 and has been the general manager of the Reconstructive Division since 2003. Hirsch has over 25 years of orthopaedic industry experience in marketing and sales management, the last nine years of which have been with Smith & Nephew. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University and a Masters Degree from the Krannert Business School of Purdue University.

Joe Woody joined Smith & Nephew in 2003 as vice president of sales for Clinical Products. Woody has nearly 20 years of sales and sales management experience, including serving as vice president with Alliance Imaging Inc and prior assignments with EMC, Acuson, and General Electric Medical Systems. Woody has a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton.

Scott Flora joined Smith & Nephew in 1986 and has held positions ranging from sales representative to global VP of marketing & sales. Flora graduated from Milliken University with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and began his career as a sales rep for Johnson & Johnson. For over 25 years Flora has been responsible for revenue, profit and customer satisfaction in pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments and medical devices.

Mark Augusti joined Smith & Nephew, Inc. as vice president of global trauma marketing in 2003. Before joining Smith & Nephew, Augusti held positions as vice president at J.P. Morgan-Chase, and global segment manager with GE Medical Systems. While at GE, Augusti spent 12 years in various sales, marketing and development roles in the U.S. and Asia, residing in Japan and Thailand. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Economics from Duke University and, an MBA from UCLA's Anderson Graduate School of Management.

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew ( http://www.smith-nephew.com/ ) is a global medical technology business, specializing in Endoscopy, Orthopaedics and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew ranks as the global leader in arthroscopy and one of the world's leaders in advanced wound management and is one of the fastest growing orthopaedics companies in the world.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeon and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with the highest standards of performance, innovation and trust. The company has more than 8,000 employees and operates in 32 countries around the world and generated sales of nearly $2.3 billion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding planned growth in our business and in our operating margins discussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions of our product pipeline. These statements, as well as the phrases "aim," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "well-placed," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "target," "consider" and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward- looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation and regulatory approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith & Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

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