IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smile Brands Inc., one of the nation’s leading providers of business support services to dental groups in the United States, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Dan Wechsler as president and chief executive officer. Wechsler previously held the position of executive vice president and company group chairman for Valeant Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:VRX).
Wechsler will start Monday, March 10, taking over the responsibilities of interim President David Young, who will resume his role as chief financial officer.
“Dan is a team-oriented and results-focused leader with a proven track record of being clinician-centric, maximizing financial performance, improving operational effectiveness and navigating through times of enormous change and growth,” said Scott Mackesy, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Beyond his stellar résumé, executive leadership skills and health care experience, it’s clear that Dan believes in the future of our industry and sees enormous potential for Smile Brands to continue growing and thriving.”
In his role at Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Wechsler had specific responsibility in the U.S. for Pharmaceuticals (branded and generic), Vision Care, Surgical, Consumer, Research and Development, Manufacturing and Quality as well as commercial operations for Valeant’s Latin American businesses. Prior to his role at Valeant, Wechsler also served as executive vice president and global pharmaceuticals president at Bausch + Lomb.
“This is an important time in the history of the health care industry and I believe strongly that Smile Brands has enormous potential to continue to grow and thrive while helping to forge the future of this dynamic industry,” Wechsler said.
About Smile Brands Inc.
Smile Brands Inc. is one of the largest providers of support services to dental groups in the United States. Smile Brands provides comprehensive business support services so dentists can spend more time caring for their patients and less time on the administrative, marketing and financial aspects of operating a dental practice. Smile Brands Inc. services support more than 1,300 dentists and hygienists practicing in over 360 Bright Now!®, @Dental®, Monarch Dental®, and Castle Dental® offices in 18 states.
Based in Irvine, Calif., Smile Brands Inc. and affiliated dental offices combined employ approximately 4,600 people nationwide.
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