EXETER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A - The Westaim Corporation today announced it has appointed Scott H. Gillis as President of its subsidiary, Westaim Biomedical Corp.

Mr. Gillis has more than 25 years’ experience in the wound and skin care, medical devices and pharmaceuticals industries, including: the advancement of medical ideas from research and development to commercial products; sourcing and securing financing; and negotiating sales, marketing and distribution partnerships with major healthcare corporations.

“Scott Gillis has the right experience and skills required to lead Westaim Biomedical as it enters new markets for its Acticoat antimicrobial barrier dressings,” said Kevin Jenkins, President and CEO of The Westaim Corporation. “Scott has the experience to negotiate partnerships in the healthcare industry to maximize the opportunities and value of Westaim Biomedical, and we are very pleased to have attracted an executive of his stature to lead the growth of our business.”

Since 1995, Mr. Gillis has served as President and CEO of Li Medical, a medical devices company. Mr. Gillis has led Li Medical through the development of new products such as permanent and bio-absorbable suture anchors and spinal fixation devices. Also responsible for securing financing and distribution partnerships, Mr. Gillis maximized penetration for the new products by negotiating global distribution partnerships with world-class companies including Linvatec, Smith & Nephew and Johnson & Johnson.

Prior to Li Medical, Mr. Gillis spent six years as a senior executive with ConvaTec, a division of Bristol-Myers Squibb. He first served as Vice President and General Manager of ConvaTec USA where he was responsible for all sales and marketing activities including leading a direct sales force. Then, as Vice President, Wound and Skin Care, Mr. Gillis led the launch of several product lines, managed worldwide R&D, medical affairs and business development.

A Boston native, Mr. Gillis has an MBA from Xavier University and a BA, Biology and Chemistry from Salem State College.

Westaim Biomedical develops medical devices based on its Acticoat® antimicrobial technology, a patented method of applying a thin layer of antimicrobial silver to base materials. The first commercial product based on this technology is the Acticoat® Antimicrobial Barrier dressing, launched into the burn wound market in 1998. Today, Acticoat® Antimicrobial Barrier dressings are being used to treat burn wounds, graft sites and donor sites in more than 90 burn centers in North America. Potential applications based on Acticoat® antimicrobial technology include specialized chronic wound dressings, catheters, orthopaedic implants and other surgical devices.

The Westaim Corporation specializes in launching exceptional technologies into the marketplace. In addition to Westaim Biomedical, its other technology businesses include: Surface Engineered Products Corp., which has developed surface engineering technologies and materials for severe applications in the petrochemical industry, and Westaim Advanced Display Technologies Inc., which is developing a revolutionary low-cost flat panel display. Westaim also operates three industrial businesses that produce aerospace materials, coin blanks and chemical products. A TSE 300 company, Westaim’s common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange and The Montreal Exchange under the trading symbol WED.


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For more information, please contact:

Tony Johnston
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs
(403) 234-3103
tjohnsto@westaim.com
www.westaim.com

Catherine Shephard
Media Profile
(416) 504-8464