Align Technology announced the appointment of Emory Wright as executive vice-president, direct fabrication manufacturing platform, effective 22 May 2024.
“Emory has had an enormous impact on Align and the orthodontic industry as a whole and I am thrilled he will continue to provide his extensive knowledge and experience to help us accelerate our plans and further extend our leadership in 3D printing,” said Align Technology president and CEO, Joe Hogan.
He added: “Until his retirement in 2026, Emory will take on a new role and in addition to helping with the transition of his existing duties, he will lead the development of our direct 3D printing capabilities and focus on building a world-class direct fabrication operation that can scale to support the global demand for our next generation products and services — including the Invisalign Palatal Expander and future orthodontic and dental appliances.”
Emory Wright will transition his current responsibilities for global operations, including treatment planning, and focus on scaling Align’s next generation direct fabrication manufacturing platform, working in close collaboration with Srini Kaza, who was promoted to executive vice-president, research and development.
Hogan further congratulation Kaza on the promotion, highlighting his contributions to the company. “Srini just crossed his 25th anniversary with Align and he is one of the most revered innovators of clear aligner therapy in the world — and his contributions to the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, the Invisalign system, are unprecedented.”
“With our recent acquisition of Cubicure, Srini and his team are now pioneering the next generation of 3D printing technologies that will radically change clear aligner therapy in the future. I am pleased to have Srini continue to lead our next phase of innovation working closely with Emory in his new role, and I want to congratulate Srini on his promotion to executive vice president, research & development,” said Hogan.
In addition, Dr Mitra Derakhshan, senior vice-president, global clinical, will assume responsibility for global treatment planning in the newly created role of executive vice-president, chief clinical officer, global treatment planning and clinical services.
“I am excited that Mitra will create an end-to-end global treatment planning and clinical services organization by combining both of our world-class teams: Global Treat Operations and Global Clinical,” said Hogan.
Hogan highlighted Dr Derakhshan’s 23 years with Align Technology, and her tremendous experience and insights into the Invisalign system, product portfolio, treatment planning protocols, and clinical software advancements. Hogan highlighted Dr Derakhshan’s holing of more than 55 granted patents, as well as 35 pending patent applications covering appliances and devices, treatment planning, attachments and features, treatment decisions, and digital workflows.
He added: “Mitra and our clinical team have played a pivotal role in developing our products and software validation as well as driving adoption of the Invisalign system through our clinical education, digital education, new doctor onboarding and growth programs as well as research programs and evidence activities. Combining their expertise with the operational and clinical competencies developed in our Treat Operations over the years, will create a new global organisation with the critical capabilities needed to drive increased confidence and adoption of Invisalign system globally.”
Jitse Marree, vice-president, global aligner manufacturing will continue to lead global clear aligner manufacturing operations and assume responsibility for Wright’s remaining global operations functions.
Hogan expressed his gratitude and confidence in Marree with the expanded responsibilities. “I am pleased to have Jitse expand his existing position as vice president, global aligner manufacturing operations to include our global clear aligner operations, reporting directly to me. Over the past seven years Jitse has been responsible for building out and leading both treatment planning and aligner fabrication operations in the EMEA region, and more recently across our global aligner manufacturing operations,” said Hogan.
He concluded: “With more than 20 years of experience working in the medical device, healthcare, and food industries in various positions in manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, and customer experience, I am confident that Jitse will bring his extensive knowledge and experience, and best practices to further extend our world-class global operational leadership.”
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