Elbit names Bird to head global ultrasound group

Vendor hopes for executive stability

Israeli technology firm Elbit has named Thomas Bird to head ElbitUltrasound Group, the company's far-flung empire of ultrasoundfirms that includes Diasonics and Ausonics. Bird will fill theleadership vacuum left by Diasonics CEO Bruce Moore, who leftthe company earlier this year (SCAN 2/15/95).

Elbit hopes Bird's arrival will put an end to speculation aboutits ultrasound leadership team, particularly in the executivesuites of Diasonics. After Moore's departure in January, ElbitCEO Emmanuel Gill stepped in to take Moore's place and promotedseveral executives at Diasonics headquarters in Santa Clara, CA.However, one of those executives, Omar Ishrak, left Diasonicsin May to head up the ultrasound business of GE Medical Systems(SCAN 6/7/95).

Bird has executive authority not only over Diasonics but alsoover the other companies in Elbit Ultrasound Group, which includesSonotron, Vingmed Sound, Ausonics and Elscintec. Bird will reportdirectly to Gill.

Bird comes to Diasonics from the consulting world. He was presidentand CEO of Management Concepts, a Los Angeles consulting firm,and specialized in the management of large global organizations.His ultrasound experience includes three years with Philips UltrasoundInternational.

Bird's goals will be to increase the group's market share inradiology and cardiology and to expand the company's presencein new market segments. For example, Diasonics recently forgeda link with sister company Elscint to increase its market penetrationin Canada. The deal essentially quadruples the number of salesreps selling Diasonics scanners in Canada.

Elbit Ultrasound Group hired Bird because it determined thata leadership presence was needed near Diasonics headquarters,according to David Kaufman, Diasonics vice president of salesand service for North America.

"For a day-to-day focus on the operations of the business,there needed to be somebody nearby," Kaufman said. "Wefelt we needed to have someone more closely allied with the organizationwith a full focus on the company."