Latest news with #BobWhite
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Olympus, Revival Healthcare partner to start GI robotics firm
This story was originally published on MedTech Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily MedTech Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Olympus said Friday it is partnering with Revival Healthcare Capital to develop a robotic system initially focused on gastrointestinal treatments. Tokyo-based Olympus and Austin, Texas-based Revival have agreed to found Swan EndoSurgical and will jointly invest up to $458 million to develop the robotic platform. Revival said it is taking a majority equity stake in the startup, and the structured investment gives Olympus an option to acquire Swan. Medtech trade group AdvaMed said the unique deal between two of its members — co-founding a third company to develop a specific medical technology — will bolster medtech's already strong manufacturing and research and development presence in the U.S. Dive Insight: Gastroenterologists perform endoscopic procedures such as cancer resection by inserting instruments through a natural orifice, but manual endoscopes have limitations that make many advanced procedures within the GI tract challenging and not widely available globally, according to Olympus. Boston-based Swan, which also has a technology center in Cambridge, U.K., aims to develop an endoluminal robot with flexible arms for maneuvering within the GI tract to treat lesions or tumors. The goal is to offer patients safer and more effective treatment, with faster recovery times, according to Olympus. Bob White, the former president of Medtronic's medical surgical business who stepped into Olympus' CEO role on June 1, said the collaboration with Revival is expected to help reshape the GI market by expanding physicians' procedural capabilities. 'This will allow the delivery of transformative, organ-sparing care that enhances outcomes for a broad patient population,' White said in a statement. The technology also has the potential to be applied in other disease areas, Olympus said. Olympus will take a 'significant equity stake' in Swan with a combined initial investment of at least $65 million. Total combined funding could reach $458 million if pre-agreed milestones are met, according to the announcement. Revival, a medtech-focused investment firm that is also a backer of surgical robot company Distalmotion, said the deal gives Olympus an option to acquire Swan at a predetermined value, while Revival has protective rights if Olympus chooses not to exercise the option. In welcoming the formation of Swan, AdvaMed CEO Scott Whitaker said the new company will bring good jobs to the U.S. 'This is a good sign that the medtech ecosystem is getting stronger,' said Whitaker. Recommended Reading Olympus pledges prompt response following FDA import block
Los Angeles Times
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Karate legend Mike Stone visits Costa Mesa studio
Karate legend Mike Stone seemed to relish the moment Wednesday night, even if few of the dozens of students at Bob White's Kenpo Karate Studio in Costa Mesa could say the same. Stone had the students warming up by stretching their legs in sets of 10, only the sets to strengthen their core and quadriceps were seemingly limitless. 'Suffer silently, please,' Stone said. 'I'd like to make a T-shirt with that logo. I love it.' Stone, now 82, was happy to donate two hours of his time to train the students. He was good friends with the late Bob White, a 10th-degree black belt who died in 2023. He said the two of them enjoyed playing golf and tennis together outside of the studio. 'After Bob passed, I really didn't have a chance to come down here,' Stone said in an interview with the Daily Pilot prior to his teaching session. 'I've been living in the Philippines for 40 years. When I came on this trip, I had a little extra time, so I decided to give [Bob's wife] Barbara a call and ask her. I actually imposed. I said, 'If it's OK, I'd like to come down and do a session for the school.' And she said, 'Yeah, sure, come on down.'' The karate students got to learn from a master who has earned 17 10th degree black belts. Stone, a native of Hawaii, was known as 'The Animal' during a competitive career that saw him win 91 straight black belt matches without a loss. Stone spoke to the students, a group that included adults and children, for about an hour before doing an hour of training with them. He said his lessons were more about life and less about martial arts. 'What I'm doing is allowing people to see another side of martial arts,' said Stone, who was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as both Fighter of the Year in 1971 and Instructor of the Year in 1994. 'Although they were told they were going to be taught these values, principles and virtues, nobody's ever really taught it, and we can see the results of it in society as a whole. It's fallen apart. 'Everybody turned toward money and convenience and violence ... There's aspects of our humanity that we have to get reconnected to. And I'm not talking about religion, I'm talking about spiritually. That's a different vibration altogether ... We've got to get back to the basics of what it is, and start telling the truth.' Stone told the students that nowadays, he starts his day at 3:30 a.m. 'What time do you go to sleep,' asked a female student, and he replied that he tries to get to bed by 9 p.m. Whatever he's doing, it seems to be working. 'He seems like he's 62, at most,' said Kristie Galyon, a student at the Bob White studio who attended Wednesday's event with her husband, Brent and 9-year-old son, Nicholas. Nicholas is a purple belt, soon to take his blue belt test, and has gotten his parents — both yellow belts — into karate. He said meeting Mike Stone was 'amazing,' and he got a movie print autographed. 'He gave a wonderful, holistic approach to what life and karate is,' Brent Galyon said. Stone, also known for having a relationship with Priscilla Presley in the early 1970s, defied expectations by earning his black belt in Shorin-ryu karate in just six months while he was in the U.S. Army and stationed in Arkansas about a decade earlier. 'You just have to have trust, faith and belief in yourself to be the very best that you can be,' he told the students Wednesday. 'That has always been my secret.' Heather Flessing of Orange, a fourth-degree black belt who has been going to the Bob White studio since 2009, enjoyed Stone's message. So did her 18-month-old daughter, apparently. 'She got to listen to Mike Stone for like 20 minutes straight,' Flessing said, laughing. 'She just stared at him.' The session ended with Stone taking a big group picture with Barbara White and the students. Alia White-Cass, Bob White's daughter and a black belt instructor at the studio, knelt in front with a framed photo of her father.
National Post
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- National Post
Former Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove has died
TORONTO — Canada's largest private-sector union says former Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove has died. Article content In a statement Sunday, Unifor says Basil 'Buzz' Hargrove was 'a beloved and iconic figure in Canada's labour movement' who 'was a tireless advocate for working people and a deeply respected leader.' Article content Article content Hargrove was national president of the CAW from 1992 until his retirement in 2008, shortly before he reached the union's mandatory retirement age of 65. Article content Article content The CAW merged with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union in 2013 to become Unifor. Article content Article content Born in Bath, N.B., in 1944, Hargrove grew up in a family of 10 children and began his working life on the shop floor of Chrysler's Windsor, Ont., assembly plant, Unifor says. Article content 'He never forgot where he came from — and he carried that working-class spirit with him into every boardroom, bargaining session and public forum,' said Unifor National President Lana Payne in the union's statement. 'His passion, his intellect, and his uncompromising belief in justice for working people shaped the labour movement we know today.' Article content Hargrove took over leadership of the CAW from Bob White, who led the union as it split from the U.S.-based United Auto Workers in 1985. Article content The Canadian union, which disagreed with the UAW's bargaining direction, negotiated some of the richest contracts for workers in Canada, and under Hargrove's leadership it expanded beyond the auto industry into other sectors, including airlines, mines and fisheries. Article content Article content Unifor said that Hargrove was 'a committed social unionist,' and pushed the CAW to fight for broader social justice issues including public health care, retirement security, equity, and fair trade. Article content Article content 'We owe him a debt of gratitude for everything he did to build a fairer Canada,' Payne added. Article content His later activities included over a year with the NHL Players' Association, working first on the union's advisory board and then as interim ombudsman. He also served as director of the Centre for Labour Management Relations at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University. Article content
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Former labour leader passes away
CAW President Buzz Hargrove leaves his table during a news conference in Toronto on Tuesday, June 3, 2008. (J.P. Moczulski / THE CANADIAN PRESS) According to a post on social media, former CAW leader Buzz Hargrove has died. 'A proud Local 444 member who rose to lead the CAW and shape Canada's labour movement,' read the post. Hargrove first became involved in the automotive sector as a line worker for the Chrysler assembly plant in Windsor and succeeded Bob White as president of the CAW in 1992. More details to come.
Associated Press
25-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Olympus Appoints New CEO
Names Bob White Representative Executive Officer, President, Chief Executive Officer and a New Director Candidate TOKYO, JAPAN - April 25, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - Olympus Corporation (Olympus), a global MedTech company committed to making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling, today announces appointment of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) aimed at accelerating its ongoing transformation efforts in the medtech space. The Board of Directors has decided unanimously to appoint Bob White, a former Executive Vice President and President, Medical Surgical Portfolio for Medtronic, as a successor to Yasuo Takeuchi, Olympus' Director, Representative Executive Officer, President and CEO, effective June 1, 2025. Bob will also be proposed as a candidate for election to the Board at Olympus' General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held in June 2025. 'We are pleased to name Bob to this pivotal leadership role. He possesses a wealth of experience garnered from his tenure at various esteemed organizations within the medical technology sector. I look forward to welcoming him as a leader who will bring extensive knowledge and expertise to the company,' said Yasuo Takeuchi. 'Over the course of his career, Bob has demonstrated exceptional leadership in driving both transformative growth and strategic initiatives. I am truly pleased that he is bringing this profound expertise and insight to Olympus.' Comment from Bob White 'I am truly honored and grateful for the trust placed in me by the Board of Directors and the Nominating Committee. Olympus is an exceptional company, known for its market-leading solutions, cutting-edge technology, and remarkable people. I'm excited to bring my experience to the table and contribute to the company's ongoing success and growth. I've long admired Olympus for its rich Japanese heritage, outstanding products, and unwavering commitment to serving the needs of both clinicians and patients.' Bob most recently served as Executive Vice President and President, Medical Surgical Portfolio for Medtronic until April 2024. Before then, he was Senior Vice President and President of Medtronic Asia Pacific, based in Singapore where he had responsibility for APAC as well as Japan. During his tenure at Covidien, he held the positions of President of Emerging Markets and President of Respiratory and Monitoring Solutions. He has seen numerous innovation programs and led several R&D initiatives and M&A transactions within complex business portfolios. His close engagement with the market and customers has enabled him to maintain a strong understanding of physician needs. Prior to joining Medtronic, Bob held leadership positions at GE Healthcare, Merge Healthcare and Healthcare Division, IBM. Throughout his career in the medtech industry, he has played a pivotal role in improving the lives of patients around the world through the transformation of healthcare delivery. In order to select and recommend the best candidate for the next CEO, the Nominating Committee engaged a leading executive search firm and formed an Advisory Search Committee in November 2024. After a comprehensive and rigorous search process, Olympus determined that Bob is the ideal leader among a strong pool of internal and external candidates. Bob possesses the skill set necessary to guide the next phase of Olympus' transformation, including quality and regulatory initiatives. Bob holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Cleveland State University and an MBA in finance from Case Western Reserve University, USA. He currently resides in Colorado and will be located in Olympus global headquarters in Tokyo, with his wife. 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 innovative 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 and follow our global X account: @Olympus_Corp. Media contact: Mail: [email protected] Olympus Corp [TYO: 7733] [ADR: OLYMY] [STU: OLY1] [FRA: OLYS]
