Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> October 17, 2003

Joseph Devivo – Rita Medical Systems Inc (rita)

JOSEPH DEVIVO became the new CEO of RITA Medical Systems, Inc., in August 2003. Before joining RITA, Mr. DeVivo was President, Chief Operating Officer and Director at Computer Motion, Inc., a leading medical robotics company in Santa Barbara, California. During Mr. DeVivo's tenure at Computer Motion, he executed a comprehensive reorganization, hired key management, led the company to consecutive record sales quarters, helped attain a new round of financing, led a merger with competitor Intuitive Surgical and secured a 400% gain in shareholder value. Prior to Computer Motion, Mr. DeVivo moved up through the executive ranks at United States Surgical Corporation, a division of TYCO Healthcare in Norwalk, Connecticut. His last role there was as vice president and general manager of a $350 million division where he helped win a $400 million sole source GPO agreement, U.S. Surgical's first compliant sole source GPO contract in company history. Profile
TWST: Would you give us a brief overview of RITA Medical Systems and a

quick look at the company's history?

Mr. DeVivo: RITA Medical Systems is a manufacturer of minimally invasive

radio