NuVasive Names VP of Strategy and Corporate Communications

San Diego, Calif.-based NuVasive Inc. has named Carol Cox as its new executive vice president of strategy and corporate communications. She will report directly to Chairman and CEO Alex Lukianov and will join the company’s executive committee.

In this newly created role, Cox will be responsible for leading NuVasive’s short- and long-term business strategies, as well as creating and managing a centralized communications function to ensure global alignment of messaging and leveraging of assets across the key areas of corporate communications, investor relations and public affairs. Included in Cox’s responsibilities will also be overseeing NuVasive corporate philanthropic and cultural efforts.

“As we continue to invest in initiatives to grow NuVasive’s share of the global spine market and focus on improving our profitability, communicating our business strategy to our stakeholders and integrating our communications efforts has never been more important,” said Lukianov. “Carol’s broad range of experience in positioning companies in the pharmaceutical, medical devices and life-science industries, as well as her knowledge of global business and markets, makes her an ideal leader to spearhead our strategic communications. She is a strong addition to our leadership team.”

“I am pleased to join Alex and the team at NuVasive as we build upon and execute against the strategies that will support our continued growth in the minimally disruptive spine market, expand our global footprint and integrate our communications efforts to help drive sustainable value for our customers, stockholders and internal employee shareowners,” said Cox.

Cox is an executive with extensive global healthcare experience in corporate strategy, investor relations, corporate communications, media relations, brand strategy and government relations. She joins NuVasive from Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) where she served as senior vice president, external affairs, leading external and internal communications, philanthropy, marketing, government relations and efforts to elevate the Institute’s global recognition. Prior to Sanford-Burnham, she served as senior vice president of external affairs and corporate communications at Life Technologies, where she spearheaded global strategies to drive awareness of the company’s major initiatives, enhance its global brand, and maintain its corporate reputation across multiple stakeholder groups. Before joining Life Technologies, Cox was vice president of investor relations at CareFusion Corporation and senior vice president for global corporate communications and investor relations at Barr Pharmaceuticals. She holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia and a certificate in investor relations from The University of Connecticut School of Business.