Gerald Niznick, DMD, MSD, announces retirement; Tom Stratton appointed president of Implant Direct

Calabasas Hills, Calif. – Gerald A. Niznick DMD, MSD, president and founder of Implant Direct, announced his retirement effective November 30, 2013. Dr. Niznick is succeeded by Tom Stratton as President of Implant Direct.

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Dr. Niznick has a 32-year successful history in the dental implant industry. He started his first implant venture as Core-Vent Corporation in 1982 which after a change in go-to-market strategy became Paragon Implant Company. Paragon was later sold to what is now Zimmer Dental. He started Implant Direct in 2004 and created a new implant “Value Segment” which generated a substantial and permanent positive change in the industry. In late 2010, Sybron International (now part of the KaVo Kerr group) acquired a majority stake in Implant Direct. Under Dr. Niznick’s leadership, Implant Direct has nearly doubled its sales in the last three years and launched many new products that have significantly increased the predictability and affordability of dental implant procedures. Implant Direct in 2013 is the fastest growing major implant company in the industry. Dr. Niznick will remain a significant part of Implant Direct as a shareholder, board member and as a consultant for product development and marketing.

“On behalf of the Board and the management team at Implant Direct, I want to congratulate Dr. Niznick on the wonderful, exciting company he has built and the dedicated, skilled team he has assembled. Implant Direct has become an incredibly successful part of the KaVo Kerr Group of Danaher under Dr. Niznick’s leadership and we believe the company is well-positioned to continue that success as Tom Stratton takes the helm” said Henk van Duijnhoven, Chairman of the Board of Managers – Implant Direct and Senior Vice President - KaVo Kerr Group.

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Tom joined Implant Direct in January 2013 as the Executive Vice President, Global Sales & Business Development and under his leadership the business accelerated in North America and globally to high teens growth and captured significant market share. Tom has over 20 years of Dental industry experience and prior to Implant Direct, he was the President of DEKA Laser Technologies, Inc. Earlier in his career, Tom was the General Manger at Dentsply Implants (formerly Dentsply Friadent CeraMed) and Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing at Zimmer Dental (formerly Sulzer Dental). Tom received his Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the University of St. Thomas.

“Tom is an experienced dental implant executive and was able to quickly improve our sales, education and focus on the customer, our current growth performance is a testimony to his contributions. I look forward to supporting him and all of the associates at Implant Direct as they continue to grow and win in the market” said Dr. Niznick.