Christer Norström – Chairman
Born: 1961
Education: PhD in Technology, associate professor in mechatronics and professor of computer technology
Holding (together with related parties): 8 555 shares
Member of the board since 2021
Board of Director assignments:
Industritekniska gymnasiet Bergslagen AB, Forsmarks Gymnasium AB, Teknobildning Sverige AB, Stiftelsen Fryxellska skola, Prindit AB och Norström & Wretås AB.
Experience:
Christer Norström has extensive experience from the academic world, large-scale industry and startups, including as CEO of the world-leading research institute RISE SICS and as a co-founder of two startup companies. He is currently CEO of ABB Industrial High School and is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences.
Independent in relation to the company and its management and from major shareholders.
Azad Najar – Board member
Born: 1968
Education: Medical doctor
Holding (together with related parties): 3 272 635 shares.
Member of the board since 2008
Board of Director assignments:
Laprotech AB and Najar Medical and Invention AB
Experience:
Azad Najar is one of the founders of Realheart and is the main innovator behind Realheart TAH. Azad originates from Iraqi Kurdistan, is a licenced doctor and works part time as Chief Physician at the Department of Urology at Västmanlands hospital in Västerås, Sweden. Najar has worked with research and development of the artificial heart since 1999.
Dependent in relation to the company and its management and from major shareholders.
Oliver Voigt– Board member
Born: 1973
Education: Biomedical engineer and certified clinical engineer. Executive MBA in Entrepreneurship and Leadership
Holding (together with related parties): 3 236 shares
Member of the board since 2022
Board of Director assignments: –
Experience:
Oliver has 25 years of experience in the field of artificial hearts and mechanical circulation support. He started at the German Heart Institute Berlin as a VAD engineer and worked with the original developer of the Berlin Heart VAD / TAH system. He then switched to the industry to introduce and secure clinical support for the world’s first non-pulsating long-term LVAD developed jointly by NASA and Dr. DeBakey (Houston). After completing his MBA, Oliver has worked as Managing Director in Europe for SynCardia (TAH) to successfully lead the international expansion and build the TAH market from two to 26 countries in the EU and the Middle East. He continues to work as Managing Director for Evaheart (LVAD) within the EU and in Asia.
Independent in relation to the company and its management and from major shareholders.
Ulf Grape – Board member
Born: 1950
Education: Licensed nurse and teacher degree in healthcare
Member of the board since 2021
Holding (together with related parties): 10 000 shares
Board of director assignments:
The insurance company Svenska Sjö Intressenter AB
Experience:
Ulf Grape has more than 20 years of experience in medical devices. Among other things, as clinical trial leader in the pacemaker division at Siemens-Elema and many years as Managing Director for St Jude Medical Sweden AB and Area Director for Scandinavia. He also has extensive experience of board work in the disability movement and has participated in reference and steering groups for the National Board of Health and Welfare and the National Institute of Public Health.
Independent in relation to the company and its management and from major shareholders.
Patrick Schnegelsberg – Board member
Born: 1964
Education: MSc in Biomedicine
Holding (together with related parties): –
Member of the board since 2022
Board of Director assignments:
Acori (non-invasive cardiac monitoring)
Experience:
Patrick has over 25 years of experience in the US and European sector of biotechnology, medical technology and financial consulting. He is the CEO of The Venture Office (Strategic and M&A Advice). Patrick has previously been Chief Operating Officer for Occlutech Group (interventional cardiology, heart failure) and CEO of Procora (heart failure), NO Labs (wound care) and US-listed GammaCan (oncology). He has worked on both the buy and sell side with leading financial organizations on Wall Street and in Europe, and he has worked as a Management Consultant at Booz & Co. Patrick graduated from Harvard Medical School and MIT and has published several peer-reviewed papers in leading scientific journals.
Independent in relation to the company and its management and from major shareholders.
Solveig Bergström – Board member
Born: 1944
Education:MSc in Financing Psychology and BSc in Business Administration in Economics and has studied distribution.
Holding (together with related parties): –
Member of the board since 2022
Board of Director assignments:
Solveig currently has a seat on the board of Novosense, a Swedish start-up company that develops wireless sensor systems for medical applications, including cardiovascular applications. She has been chairman of the board (former CEO) of Fixter Instruments AB, a company that developed medical equipment and instruments (sold to an international company).
Experience:
Solveig has over 30 years of experience from leading companies in various stages and sizes, including the entire progression from start-up, growth, establishment of international subsidiaries to M&A and sales. She was responsible for the business development area of health, as part of the management team at LM Ericsson, including operational management of international projects and business activities, gathering expertise in the European groups, establishing international committees and founding international medical groups. She has also been responsible for Life Science / Health Care industry issues at Invest in Sweden Agency (ISA) when the company started its operations in 1996 (later merged with the Swedish Trade Council to become Business Sweden).
Independent in relation to the company and its management and from major shareholders.