Sonendo, Inc. (NYSE: SONX), a dental technology company and developer of the GentleWave System, has announced changes to its leadership team. Andrew Kirkpatrick, chief operating officer, is stepping down from his position, effective June 1, 2023, to pursue new opportunities. The company has created two new roles to continue its focus on operational improvement and innovation. Effective May 1, 2023, John McGaugh will join the company as vice president of operations, and earlier this year, the company promoted Kevin Yein to vice president of research and development.
“Since joining the company in 2020, Andy has been a valuable member of the executive team, working to build a scalable operations organization for the future and addressing unprecedented global supply chain challenges during 2022,” said Sonendo president and CEO Bjarne Bergheim. “We appreciate Andy’s contributions to the company and wish him the best as he pursues other goals.”
To continue its focus on developing a scalable operations organization and improving its gross margin profile, Sonendo has hired John McGaugh as vice president of operations. Mr. McGaugh brings more than 20 years of global manufacturing and supply chain operations experience and leadership to Sonendo. He previously held leadership positions at companies such as Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific, and American Medical Systems, developing expertise in navigating the challenges of scalability and high-growth manufacturing. Most recently at Abbott Vascular, he led a team of over 1500 employees and executed strategic initiatives to improve productivity, deliver significant cost savings, and optimize manufacturing networks, resulting in improved margins and cost reductions.
“Improving gross margins is a critical initiative for Sonendo, and we believe John’s expertise and experience make him a great fit for our needs and opportunities. He has a proven track record in manufacturing, supply chain optimization, and installed base performance support – and that combination of experience is essential for us at this stage of our development to allow us to continue to scale, to develop stronger margins, and to support our commitment to technology innovation,” said Mr. Bergheim.
Sonendo also promoted Kevin Yein to vice president of R&D earlier this year. Mr. Yein joined Sonendo in early 2020 and since then has helped to grow and develop the R&D organization and processes while driving some of the company’s most important product development initiatives, including the innovative CleanFlow technology and GentleWave G4 System, both introduced in 2022. Prior to Sonendo, Mr. Yein led engineering and product development processes and programs for over a decade at Beckman Coulter, a Danaher Corporation, and also at L3Harris, a defense contractor.
”We’re excited to see Kevin in this new, expanded leadership role in the R&D organization. Over the last year, he’s taken on additional responsibilities in R&D to drive delivery of critical new innovations, and we are confident that he’s going to deliver on our roadmap while further developing a world-class R&D team,” said Mr. Bergheim.
Both Mr. McGaugh and Mr. Yein will report to Bjarne Bergheim and serve as members of the company’s management team.
About Sonendo
Sonendo is a medical technology company focused on preserving teeth from tooth decay, which is the most common chronic disease globally. The company develops and manufactures the GentleWave® System, an innovative platform that effectively treats tooth decay by cleaning and disinfecting the tiny spaces within teeth without the need for removing tooth structure. The GentleWave System employs a unique mechanism of action, which involves optimizing procedure fluid, using broad-spectrum acoustic energy, and applying advanced fluid dynamics to remove debris and disinfect the complex root canal system.
Compared to conventional methods of root canal therapy, the GentleWave System offers several clinical benefits, including improved outcomes, such as superior cleaning that is independent of root canal complexity and tooth anatomy, rapid healing, and minimal post-operative pain. Furthermore, the GentleWave System streamlines the workflow and improves the economics of dental practices. It also provides patients with a less invasive and less painful alternative to traditional root canal therapy.
Sonendo is also the parent company of TDO Software, which provides endodontic practice management software solutions designed to simplify practice workflow. TDO Software integrates practice management, imaging, referral reporting, and CBCT imaging and features built-in communication with the GentleWave System.
For more information about Sonendo and the GentleWave System, please visit www.sonendo.com.
To find a GentleWave doctor in your area, please visit www.gentlewave.com.
