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American Medical Systems Announces Changes to Worldwide Business Structure; Increased Focus on International Markets

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^{Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, January 27th 2009 at 21:30 GMT, Last Modified on 2009-01-27 21:31:29 by Market Wire}  

MINNEAPOLIS--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--American Medical Systems, Inc., (AMS) (NASDAQ: AMMD) today announced changes to its worldwide sales structure. In an effort to strengthen and focus its expansion plans outside the United States, AMS has organized its sales and marketing organizations into three regions around the world: North America, Europe Middle East Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific/Latin America.

With this new structure, AMS has appointed Francois Georgelin to the newly created position of vice president and general manager of the EMEA Region. Francois comes to AMS with extensive leadership experience in international sales and marketing. Most recently, he was with Gambro, a European-based health care company, where he was vice president of emerging markets, EMEA, with responsibility for both direct sales as well as sales through more than 50 distributors. Prior to Gambro, Francois held sales and marketing leadership positions throughout Europe, for Medtronic, J&J (Ethicon, Gynecare, Mitek) and Air Liquide. Francois's proven track record with growth acceleration programs, along with his broad international business and leadership experience in medical devices, will serve AMS well in growing the EMEA Region. He will be located at AMS' European office in Amsterdam.

Additionally, Mike Ryan has been appointed vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific/Latin America Region. Ryan has been with AMS for 22 years and was previously vice president of international sales and marketing where he successfully led AMS' business in markets outside the United States with consistently high sales growth. He will now focus his efforts on developing some of the fastest growing health care markets in the world in Asia Pacific/Latin America. Ryan's exceptional knowledge of and relationships within the urology and gynecology community uniquely positions AMS for sustained growth in the Asia Pacific/Latin America Region. He will be located at AMS' corporate headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn.

"We are very pleased to announce this new structure to facilitate the worldwide expansion of AMS over the coming years," said AMS President and CEO Anthony P. Bihl, III. "Mike and Francois each bring extensive experience in medical device sales and marketing outside the U.S. We are excited about the opportunity to expand the availability of our pelvic health solutions in the broader world market."

Francois and Ryan will be responsible for all direct and distributor business within their respective regions, and for fully developing these markets for all of AMS' products. Both will report directly to the CEO and become members of AMS' executive leadership team.

About American Medical Systems

American Medical Systems, headquartered in Minnetonka, Minn., is a diversified supplier of medical devices and procedures to cure erectile dysfunction, benign prostate hyperplasia, incontinence, menorrhagia, prolapse and other pelvic disorders in men and women. These disorders can significantly diminish one's quality of life and profoundly affect social relationships. In recent years, the number of people seeking treatment has increased markedly as a result of longer lives, higher-quality-of-life expectations and greater awareness of new treatment alternatives. American Medical Systems' products reduce or eliminate the incapacitating effects of these diseases, often through minimally invasive therapies. The Company's products were used to treat approximately 320,000 patients in 2008.

More information about the Company and its products can be found at its website [ www.AmericanMedicalSystems.com ] and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2007 and its other SEC filings.