Acuson shifts at top, restores one to the fold

Acuson lost a veteran marketing executive last month, promotedseveral top executives, and brought back a former manager whohad left the firm to head up Toshiba's U.S. ultrasound business.

"We have made a number of changes in our organizationthat will position Acuson well to compete in the long term,"said president and CEO Samuel H. Maslak.

The most dramatic change occurred last week as Daniel Dugan,former vice president of ultrasound business operations at ToshibaAmerica Medical Systems in Tustin, CA, moved back to the employerhe left in late 1989. Dugan will fill the newly created post ofvice president of field operations. He had been vice presidentof sales at Acuson before leaving for Toshiba.

"He (Dugan) will be responsible for radiology and cardiologysales, worldwide service and the entire customer support groupat Acuson," Maslak said. "He will be a key member ofmy management team in developing long-term strategies for thecompany and participating in the overall guidance and growth ofAcuson."

"I was looking for broader responsibilities, and feltthat there was a career opportunity here (at Acuson)," Dugansaid. "Unfortunately, I had to leave friends behind and anexcellent product and company."

As Dugan returned to Acuson, marketing vice president RobertV. McCormick left the ultrasound vendor to become senior vicepresident of marketing and field operations at Laserscope of SanJose, a surgical laser company. McCormick had been with Acusonsince 1983, when the firm launched its high-end 128 ultrasoundscanner.

William C. Varley, former director of marketing, was promotedto vice president of marketing following McCormick's departure.Varley was general manager of Picker's ultrasound business beforejoining the firm in 1988.

Also promoted at Acuson were:

• William H. Abbot, from executive vice president tosenior executive vice president;

• Robert J. Gallagher, from vice president and CFO toexecutive vice president and CFO; and

• John G. Freund, from vice president of corporate developmentto executive vice president.