Executive team

Dig Howitt

CEO & President

Dig joined Cochlear in 2000 and has a wealth of experience across the Company in roles including Chief Operating Officer, SVP, Manufacturing and Logistics and President, Asia Pacific. Prior to joining Cochlear, Dig worked for Boral and Boston Consulting Group. Dig is a member of the Male Champions of Change STEM group. He was appointed as President of Cochlear on 31 July 2017 and became CEO & President on 3 January 2018.

Qualifications: BE (Hons), MBA

Stuart Sayers

CFO

Stu was appointed as Cochlear’s inaugural President, Services in July 2016 and Acting CFO on 1 January 2021. His appointment as CFO was confirmed on 12 February 2021.

The Services business provides aftercare services for Cochlear recipients and professionals, generating revenue from post-implant products and other offerings.

Stu has a strong financial background and a wealth of experience in establishing and building customer focused technology and online businesses. Stu ran Amazon’s subsidiary Audible in Asia Pacific, as well as E*TRADE and Yahoo!7 in Australia and New Zealand. He previously held senior roles with ANZ and McKinsey.

Qualifications: BEc (Hons), MBA

Jan Janssen

Chief Technology Officer

Jan leads a team of over 350 highly qualified engineers and scientists who implement the R&D strategy. This includes responsibility for identifying and developing cutting-edge technologies and bringing these innovations through to commercial products. Since 2017, he is also responsible for the business development strategy of Cochlear.

Jan started his career at Philips Electronics in 1990 and joined Cochlear in 2000 as Head of the Cochlear Technology Centre based in Belgium. After relocation to Sydney in 2003, Jan was promoted to SVP, Design and Development in 2005. In 2017, he was appointed Chief Technology Officer

Qualifications: MScEE

Tony Manna

President, Americas Region

Tony is responsible for the development and execution of the strategic direction for our North America operations.

Tony joined Cochlear in 2005 and has over 30 years’ medical device experience, including senior commercial management roles at BEI Medical and Gyrus Medical. Prior roles in Cochlear include VP, Sales USA, General Manager, Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions, USA and President, Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions, Sweden

Qualifications: BS EET

Richard Brook

President, EMEA & Latin American Region

Richard is responsible for the development and execution of the strategic direction for all our operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Latin America. This includes sales in over 60 countries.

Before joining Cochlear in 2003, Richard held senior roles in Guidant Corporation and Alaris Medical Systems. He has over 20 years’ experience in the medical device industry.

Qualifications: BSc Management, MBA

Anthony Bishop

President, Asia Pacific Region

Anthony was appointed President, Asia Pacific in July 2016. Anthony is responsible for the development and execution of the strategic direction for all our operations in Australia, Asia and the South Pacific.

Anthony joined Cochlear in July 2015 as Director of Marketing and Business Development, Asia Pacific. Prior to Cochlear, Anthony spent 21 years at Johnson & Johnson Medical in various roles including marketing, sales and general management around the world including being Managing Director, Johnson & Johnson Medical, Australia/New Zealand prior to joining Cochlear.

Qualifications: BBus (Hons), MManagement, GAICD

Dean Phizacklea

Senior Vice President, Global Marketing

Dean joined Cochlear in June 2016. Dean has responsibility for product marketing and commercialisation, consumer marketing, innovation, market access, market insights and corporate communications.

Dean has more than 20 years' experience in medical devices and pharmaceuticals, covering a range of senior commercial roles in the US, Japan, Europe and Australia. Prior to joining Cochlear, Dean led Global Strategic Marketing for Abbott Diabetes Care. Other roles include General Manager for Abbott's pharmaceutical and diabetes care businesses in Australia/New Zealand and commercial roles in Asia with AstraZeneca.

Qualifications: BSc Microbiology, MBA

David Hackshall

Chief Information Officer

David joined Cochlear in July 2015 as Cochlear’s first Chief Information Officer and has global responsibility for the Company’s information technology strategy and management. David’s focus is to ensure Cochlear has the platforms in place to deliver and drive growth. This capability is critical in connecting Cochlear with both professionals and recipients and evolving Cochlear into both a business-to-business as well as business-to-customer organisation.

Prior to Cochlear, David was Chief Information Officer at Wesfarmers Insurance Ltd and brings over 15 years of executive experience across the communications, logistics and finance sectors.

Qualifications: DipFN, MIT, MBA

Greg Bodkin

Senior Vice President, Supply Chain & Operational Excellence

Greg has functional responsibility for new product industrialisation, procurement, manufacturing, logistics and warranty & repair. These functions enable the technologies developed in design and development to be supplied as commercial products in Cochlear’s global markets. In addition, he leads the Cochlear Program Office and management of the Global Property portfolio.

Greg joined Cochlear in 2007 as Head of Supply with 20 years’ prior experience in supply chain management and operations consulting positions, including appointments at Taylor Ceramic Engineering, Warman International Ltd, Weir Minerals PLC and National Australia Bank. In August 2014, he was promoted to the position of SVP Manufacturing and Logistics. In January 2018, he was promoted to the position of SVP, Supply Chain & Operational Excellence.

Qualifications: BE (Hons), MComm (UNSW)

Jennifer Hornery

Senior Vice President, People & Culture

Jennifer joined Cochlear in 2008 as Senior HR Business Partner with responsibility for manufacturing and logistics and safety and wellness before taking on responsibility for People & Culture Business Partnering for Cochlear's global functions in 2016. Jennifer was appointed SVP, People & Culture in 2017.

Prior to Cochlear, Jennifer worked in commercial, strategy and HR leadership roles across a number of industries within Australia and the US, including senior positions at Campbell Arnott’s and Booz & Company.

Qualifications: BComm, MBA

Dr. Brian Kaplan

Senior Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Innovation

Dr. Kaplan joined Cochlear in 2017 and was appointed Senior Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Innovation in 2019. He is also the Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology, Director of the Cochlear Implant Program at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Baltimore, MD, and President-elect of the Maryland Society of Otolaryngology.

Dr. Kaplan spent more than 10 years consulting in the medical device and services space, working with venture, public and private equity firms. In 2013, he co-founded the technology company, Everseat, providing a novel, mobile platform optimizing scheduling efficiency for medical practices, hospitals and health systems. Past research interests have included cartilage and inner ear hair cell regeneration, with clinical studies involving various ototopical agents, along with hybrid and traditional cochlear implantation.

Qualifications: BA, MD, FACS