Olympus Names Dr. John de Csepel as Chief Medical Officer
Driving the Medical and Scientific Affairs Division to provide the highest level of patient access and safety
TOKYO, Oct 3, 2023 – (JCN Newswire) – Olympus Corporation (Olympus), a global MedTech company committed to making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling, named Dr. John de Csepel to the role of Chief Medical Officer (CMO), effective immediately.
In this role, John will report to CEO Stefan Kaufmann and drive the globally integrated Medical and Scientific Affairs Division (MSA) with a wealth of experience and remarkable track record in healthcare. Olympus is devoted to developing safe medical devices with demonstrable clinical and economic value to reduce the social burden of healthcare costs while improving healthcare outcomes for all.
Dr. John de Csepel
“As a leading global MedTech company, we must deliver optimal medical care that prioritizes patient safety to meet the expectations of our stakeholders. Today, I am delighted to announce an exciting new leader to take the team to even greater heights,” said Shigeto Ohtsuki, Olympus Chief Human Resources Officer. “We look forward to the innovative ideas, expertise, and leadership that Dr. de Csepel will bring us as we continue contributing to the advancement of healthcare.”
The MSA team aims to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care through minimally invasive solutions across targeted diseases while delivering above-market, sustainable growth.
John joins Olympus from Medtronic, where he most recently served as the Global Regions Chief Medical Officer. He played a pivotal role in driving innovative relationships with healthcare providers and enhancing patient access to care through his leadership in clinical research and medical science. Before that, he headed the Medical Affairs teams at both Barrx Medical and Covidien’s Surgical business, demonstrating exceptional leadership and expertise in the MedTech industry. Concurrent with his management experience, he has worked as a volunteer war surgeon for Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontiéres) from 2006 through 2014 and since then as a New York City trauma surgeon on the weekends.
John holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a doctorate in medicine from Georgetown University, Washington D.C. He was a General Surgery Resident and Laparoscopic Surgery Fellow at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and subsequently served as Chief of Minimally Invasive of Surgery at New York’s Saint Vincent’s Hospital. He continues to reside in New York, U.S.A.
About Olympus
At Olympus, we are committed to Our Purpose of making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. As a global medical technology company, we partner with healthcare professionals to provide best-in-class solutions and services for early detection, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in targeted disease states. For more than 100 years, Olympus has pursued a goal of contributing to society by producing products designed with the purpose of delivering optimal outcomes for its customers around the world. For more information, visit https://www.olympus-global.com/ and follow our global X account: @Olympus_Corp.
Effective June 1, Wenlei Yang will be named Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for Olympus Corporation (Olympus), a global MedTech company committed to making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling.
Effective June 1, Wenlei Yang will be named Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for Olympus Corporation. Wenlei will drive, oversee and implement initiatives related to Olympus’ new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) directions, set as part of the company’s global ESG strategy announced on May 12, 2023.
DEI efforts concerning other pillars, including age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, (dis)ability, religion, opinions and political stance, are all equally important in Olympus. [Image: Olympus]
In this newly established role, Wenlei will drive, oversee and implement initiatives related to Olympus’ new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) directions set as part of the company’s global ESG strategy announced on May 12, 2023. The company will deepen measures to fully realize the DEI principles in all facilities worldwide to foster a healthy organizational culture.
Wenlei joined Olympus in 1992 and held various roles during the following 18 years, mainly in global sales and marketing positions across China, Hong Kong and Japan. In 2010, she was assigned Head of Sales & Marketing Division and General Manager of the Imaging Business and General Manager of Olympus China. Wenlei was then appointed Regional Representative Officer, China in 2019. In 2023, she was appointed Regional Representative Officer, Japan. Moving forward, Wenlei will continue to represent Japan as the Regional Representative Officer and will also lead initiatives related to Olympus’ global DEI strategy.
“Both employees and society hold expectations of DEI that are constantly evolving, and as a leading global MedTech company, we must remain informed of global trends and implement appropriate solutions for Olympus to meet the expectations of our stakeholders,” said Shigeto Ohtsuki, Olympus Chief Human Resources Officer. “The creation of this new role will ensure a strong global governance structure for our DEI program. Together with Wenlei’s multilingual skills and extensive global management experience, her background exemplifies the benefits and goals of being committed to DEI principles. I am confident that Wenlei’s seasoned leadership will propel our organization toward our DEI goals.”
Olympus continuously works to build an inclusive culture and equitable systems, where everyone, including those within the communities it serves, is accepted for who they are, with equal access to opportunities.
The company has formulated a vision and developed a phased plan to advance all aspects of DEI in Olympus. After the foundation is set in the initial phase, company processes and systems will be reviewed through a DEI lens, making DEI part of its daily operations to further contribute to its external partners and the communities Olympus serves.
Four key themes are prioritized at the global level[1] under the DEI strategy
1. Gender and Life Priority: Further support for women employees and all caretakers[2] that may have time constraints due to personal life events. 2. Nationality and Culture: Increase diversity and ensure equitable access to opportunities regardless of nationality, culture or language skills. 3. Career and Experience: Enhance employee professional experience and broaden the perspective of team and organizational coverage. 4. Inclusive Environment: Ensure an environment where everyone can speak up freely and collaborate effectively.
To address the four themes, on top of ongoing initiatives[3], concrete new initiatives will continue to be introduced to global employees.
KPIs and targets to accelerate DEI initiatives
1. Achieve 30% representation of women in management roles globally and 13% at Olympus Corporation (Japan) by the fiscal year ending March 31, 2028. 2. Achieve 100% of eligible men in Japan taking parental leave by FY2026. 3. Increase nationality and cultural diversity in the organization and increase employee engagement survey scores.
[1] DEI efforts concerning other pillars, including age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, (dis)ability, religion, opinions and political stance, are all equally important in Olympus. Further increases in diversity and ensuring equity in each pillar will be driven in each region, taking regional features into account. [2] Caregivers are people who need to work and care for their children, parents, or other loved ones. [3] Includes global DEI training for managers, enhanced work-life balance support for all genders, increased opportunities to apply for global roles, language learning opportunities, and a pilot Peer Learning Program.
About Olympus
At Olympus, we are committed to Our Purpose of making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. As a global medical technology company, we partner with healthcare professionals to provide best-in-class solutions and services for early detection, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in targeted disease states. For more than 100 years, Olympus has pursued a goal of contributing to society by producing products designed with the purpose of delivering optimal outcomes for its customers around the world. For more information, visit www.olympus-global.com and follow our global Twitter account: @Olympus_Corp.
Olympus Corporation (Olympus), a global medtech company committed to making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling, announced that it has been selected for inclusion in the 2022 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) and the 2022 Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index (DJSI Asia Pacific), both among the most globally recognized corporate sustainability indices. Olympus has been named to the DJSI World for two consecutive years and DJSI Asia Pacific for four.
The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) are corporate sustainability evaluation indices for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment. Jointly developed by S&P Dow Jones Indices and RobecoSAM, the DJSI track the financial performances of leading companies according to ESG criteria. These indices are updated annually to include companies with excellent corporate sustainability practices.
In 2022, 332 companies were selected as DJSI World members from approximately 3,500 companies worldwide in 61 industry sectors, and 156 companies were selected as DJSI Asia Pacific members from approximately 600 companies assessed in the region. Olympus is one of only 8 out of 64 companies to have been included in the DJSI World Health Care Equipment & Supplies sector. The company’s scores on Access to Healthcare, Talent Attraction & Retention, Tax Strategy, Environmental Policy & Management Systems were of particular note, being not only highly rated, but having also been improved over last year’s scores. In addition to the DJSI World and Asia Pacific, Olympus was also named to the FTSE4Good Index Series and FTSE Blossom Japan Index.
Stefan Kaufmann; Director, Executive Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer of Olympus, stated: “It is a great honor for Olympus to again be selected for the DJSI World and Asia Pacific. In order to realize Our Purpose of Making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling, we have taken various initiatives to contribute to society, positioning ESG as one of the most important strategic pillars in our Corporate Strategy. We are proud to be included in the DJSI World and Asia Pacific for consecutive years as evidence of our continuous evolution as well as our high reputation in ESG from stakeholders. We will further accelerate our efforts to realize a sustainable society.”
Based on Our Purpose, Olympus believes that the sustainability of a company will be recognized primarily by meeting the demands and expectations of society and fulfilling responsibilities through dialogue with all stakeholders. The company will continue to contribute to creating a sustainable society by actively engaging in activities that incorporate ESG perspectives to fulfill its corporate social responsibilities on a global scale.
For more information on Olympus’ ESG initiatives, please refer to its Integrated Report 2022[1] and the Sustainability page on its website[2].
Olympus is passionate about creating customer-driven solutions for the medical, life sciences, and industrial equipment industries. For more than 100 years, Olympus has focused on making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling by helping to detect, prevent, and treat disease; furthering scientific research; and ensuring public safety. Olympus is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with more than 30,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries and regions. For more information, visit www.olympus-global.com and follow our global Twitter account: @Olympus_Corp ( https://twitter.com/olympus_corp ).
Olympus Corporation (Olympus), a global medtech company committed to making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling, has partnered with MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific, the industry’s largest healthcare accelerator, to facilitate the Olympus Asia Pacific Innovation Program (OAIP) running throughout 2023. Over a century old, Olympus has a rich heritage in the field of medical device innovation, having made a substantial impact on lives, with a portfolio of solutions that provide treatment for approximately 100[1] diseases or conditions, including the top four[2] of five cancers by global incidence rates. Olympus believes that the emergence of new technologies, particularly those within the digital realm, will revolutionize the patient care paradigm. Patient outcomes will be improved by optimizing the care pathway for individual patients based on their unique needs.
Olympus invites visionary startups to contribute to this revolution by participating in the OAIP and submitting their technologies that play a meaningful role in the advancement of minimally invasive care and new ways to detect, monitor, and treat conditions and diseases. Shortlisted startups will be invited to pitch across various in-person and virtual pitch events in front of Olympus executives and leaders over two phases from May 2023 to September 2023, with the winning innovator receiving grant funding of $75,000 as well as an exclusive mentorship program with key thought leaders from within Olympus.
Felicia Chung, Olympus Business Development Leader for the Asia Pacific region said “I am pleased to announce Olympus’ first-ever Innovation Program that seeks to identify and collaborate with innovators in the very exciting medtech space. APAC is a hotbed of innovative and bold ideas, especially in the space of digital solutions, and we are excited to uncover promising technologies that positively impact human health and create tangible value for providers and patients. We look forward to kick-starting this program and to playing a meaningful role in the advancement of minimally invasive care by identifying new ways to detect, monitor, and treat conditions and diseases.”
Marc Radatt, CEO for Olympus Corporation of Asia Pacific Limited and board member of the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed), said “Olympus is proud to have partnered with MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific in pursuit of new ideas that will revolutionize patient outcomes and increase access to new technologies through the OAIP. Initiatives like these promote industry wide collaboration, and access to valuable funding and mentorships that result in meaningful change and facilitate greater medtech thought leadership across our region.”
To apply for the OAIP, please visit: https://medtechinnovator.org/olympusapac2023/
Participation Criteria
Visionaries are invited to submit solutions that play a meaningful role in the advancement of minimally invasive care and new ways to detect, monitor, and treat conditions and diseases. Of particular interest are technologies focused on cancers and diseases of the stomach, colon, and lungs, and within the urology specialty. Examples may include:
– Smart endoscopy, enabling early detection and advanced endoluminal therapy/treatment – Robotics, sensing, monitoring, and navigation technology for future autonomy in minimally invasive diagnosis/surgery/treatment – Transformation of the patient care pathway from pre-surgery planning through post-surgical care, supported by, for example: — AI for clinical efficiency & predictive analysis — 3D/4D image reconstruction for surgical procedures – Novel device/procedural solutions that may replace current procedures or offer an alternative to drug treatments – Innovations that enable non- or less-invasive diagnosis, surgery, and treatment – Ethical AI / digitally enabled technologies – Next-generation automated documentation – Smart gastro clinics and remote patient monitoring related to gut health
Through the OAIP, Olympus aims to identify the next revolutionary solution that will help to elevate the standard of care for patients globally, in line with Olympus’ purpose of making people’s lives safer, healthier and more fulfilling.
About Olympus
As a leading medical technology company, Olympus’ Medical Business uses innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing to help healthcare professionals deliver diagnostic, therapeutic, and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs, and enhance the quality of life for patients. Olympus’ Medical portfolio includes endoscopes, laparoscopes, and video imaging systems, as well as surgical energy devices, customer solutions, medical services, and a wide range of endotherapy instruments for endoscopic and therapeutic applications. For more information, visit www.olympus-global.com and follow our global Twitter account: @Olympus_Corp.
About MedTech Innovator
Based in Los Angeles, Calif., MedTech Innovator is the largest accelerator of medical device companies in the world and the premier startup accelerator in the medical technology industry. Its mission is to improve the lives of patients by accelerating the growth of companies that are transforming the health care system. MedTech Innovator matches health care industry leaders with innovative early stage and emerging-growth medtech companies for mentorship and support. To date, MedTech Innovator has supported 509 alumni that have gone on to raise $6 billion in follow-on funding, and brought more than 200 products to regulatory clearance or approval. For more information, visit MedTech Innovator and follow @MedTechAwards on Twitter and MedTech Innovator on LinkedIn. To receive industry insights and highlights about MedTech Innovator’s current and alumni participant companies, subscribe to its monthly newsletter. https://medtechinnovator.org/
Contact: global-public_relations@olympus.com
[1] As of March 2022 [2] Lung, stomach, colon, and prostate cancers – the top four highest incidence of cancers excluding breast cancer, as of March 2022.
Olympus Corporation (“Olympus” – Director, Representative Executive Officer, President and CEO: Yasuo Takeuchi) announces that from April 2022, the company has begun to exclusively source 100% of the electricity used at its major R&D and manufacturing sites in Japan from renewable sources.
As a result, CO2 emissions from Olympus Group facilities in Japan will be reduced by approximately 40,000 tons per year. The percentage of the Olympus Group’s total electricity use* in fiscal 2023 (ending March 2023) from renewable energy sources is expected to substantially increase from approximately 14% in the previous fiscal year to approximately 70%.
– Transition to Renewable Energy Usage across the Olympus Group (Facilities in Japan and Overseas) FY2020 11.7% FY2021 12.7% FY2022 (estimate) 14% (approx.) FY2023 (estimate) 70% (approx.) *Excluding recently acquired companies, certain service offices, and certain sales offices.
Olympus has set a goal of achieving net zero CO2 emissions from its site operations by 2030, as part of its commitment to achieving environmentally responsible business growth and creating a sustainable society. This is a key goal in line with our ESG materiality targets focused on the theme of a “carbon neutral society and circular economy.”
The company has already introduced a wide range of initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions. This includes the use of 100% renewable energy at some manufacturing sites in Europe and the United States, the installation of solar power generation facilities at some manufacturing sites in Japan, and support of the recommendations made by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)*.
To achieve its carbon neutral goal, Olympus will continue to optimize manufacturing processes and promote energy-saving measures, is committed to further accelerate the shift to renewable energy sources across the company, thereby contributing to the decarbonization of society on a global level.
About Olympus
Olympus is passionate about creating customer-driven solutions for the medical, life sciences, and industrial equipment industries. For more than 100 years, Olympus has focused on making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling by helping to detect, prevent, and treat disease; furthering scientific research; and ensuring public safety. Olympus is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with more than 30,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries and regions. For more information, visit www.olympus-global.com and follow our global Twitter account: @Olympus_Corp (https://twitter.com/olympus_corp).
*News release “Olympus Targets Carbon Neutrality by 2030 – Adds Carbon Neutrality and Circular Economy to its ESG Materiality and Supports the Recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures”: https://www.olympus-global.com/news/2021/contents/nr02125/nr02125_00001.pdf
