SAN FRANCISCO– Element Science, an innovative health technology company developing a pioneering digital wearable platform for high-risk cardiovascular patients, announced the appointment of Lee Smith Jr. as the company’s first Head of Commercial. With nearly 20 years of successful leadership experience in sales, commercial operations, and customer success, Mr. Smith will be instrumental in driving the launch and expansion of Element Science’s Jewel Patch Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (P-WCD) globally.
The Company recently announced it had received the European Union’s CE mark certification and Great Britain’s UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) marking for its novel Jewel P-WCD. With the Premarket Approval (PMA) process for the Jewel P-WCD far along in its review with the FDA, Mr. Smith will accelerate preparation for the Jewel P-WCD’s highly anticipated U.S. launch.
Mr. Smith’s extensive experience, particularly most recently as Head of Commercial of Philips’ Ambulatory and Diagnostic Monitoring Group, will shape Element Science’s strategic approach to commercialization. His role will focus on building a high-performance commercial team, developing effective and patient-focused sales strategies, and ensuring an unparalleled customer success experience for all stakeholders. He will also be responsible for overseeing the company’s field clinical operations, providing hands-on leadership during the crucial launch phase.
“We are thrilled to welcome Lee Smith Jr. to our leadership team as our first Head of Commercial,” said Dr. Uday N. Kumar, Founder, President & CEO of Element Science. “His track record in building successful commercial teams and leading them through new product launches will be invaluable as we prepare for the anticipated commercialization of the Jewel P-WCD. Further, given my deep belief in the importance of focusing on the patient experience when developing wearable technologies, I know that Lee’s direct leadership and experience with products squarely focused on patients aligns extremely well with our goal of redefining cardiovascular patient care during the hospital to home transition.”
Commercialization under Mr. Smith is a significant step in Element Science’s journey toward achieving its short- and long-term goals of becoming a leader in clinical grade therapeutic wearables built around advanced machine learning algorithms. Under Mr. Smith, the launch of the Jewel P-WCD in key markets, including in areas with historically different access to cutting edge technologies, will not only help establish Element Science as a leader in digital health technology, but also signal the company’s commitment to customer success and ensuring that innovation is equitably delivered.
In addition to key leadership roles in major healthcare technology companies, Mr. Smith was also responsible for leading several mergers and acquisitions and strategically restructuring sales forces, which resulted in increased productivity. His entrepreneurial spirit and tenacity have earned him multiple Presidents Clubs and Manager of the Year Awards, highlighting his commitment to excellence in commercial leadership.
“I’m very excited to join Element Science and contribute to the successful launch of the Jewel P-WCD,” said Mr. Smith. “The company’s focus on innovative wearable health technology and patient-centric solutions is inspiring. I look forward to working with the talented team at Element Science to bring this life-saving technology to patients.”
