Earl R. Fender

Mr. Fender has served as the President and CEO since March of 2008. He brings over 25 years of successful leadership experience in general management and product commercialization in the medical device and spinal industry. During a 10 year span, he led DePuy Spine, a Johnson & Johnson company, as Vice President of Sales, U.S. President and finally, Worldwide President. Under Mr. Fender's leadership, DePuy Spine grew to over $1 billion in global sales, operating in 54 countries, making it the world's second largest spinal implant company. Prior to Johnson & Johnson, Mr. Fender led the U.S. sales organization for Synthes (USA), the industry leader in orthopedic trauma, orchestrating a five year period of sales force expansion and accelerated growth. Prior to VertiFlex, Mr. Fender served as Vice President and General Manager of Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., a global leader in adult mesenchymal stem cell technologies. In less than two years, he built Osiris' Osteocel business from scale-up to one of the world's leading commercialized cellular products, which has treated over 15,000 patients. Mr. Fender's academic qualifications include a B.A. in Business Administration from Thiel College, along with the completion of Harvard Business School's Program for Management Development.