Sheryl Conley to Lead OrthoWorx

David Floyd is leaving OrthoWorx to return to industry. Former Zimmer exec and local Warsaw, Indiana, native, Sheryl Conley, is taking his place as CEO of the organization.

Floyd became the group’s first CEO about a year ago after leaving as head of DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. He was a founding member of OrthoWorx while at DePuy.

We asked Brad Bishop, OrthoWorx’s executive director, where Floyd was going. He said Floyd is planning to return to industry, but isn’t leaving for a specific new position. “He [Floyd] felt it was important to have continuity of leadership given some important milestones coming up here at OrthoWorx, so Sheryl coming on board now will assure that transition.”

Conley is homegrown and served for 25 years until 2008 in various management capacities at Zimmer Holdings, Inc., where her last position was group president, Americas and global marketing, and chief marketing officer.

According to Jon Serbousek, OrthoWorx board chair, Conley’s appointment assures that continuity of purpose for the organization. “We are exceedingly grateful for David’s service to OrthoWorx, both as a founding board member and, for the past year, as CEO. While our organization is still young, we have matured and made outstanding progress with David’s leadership. Continuity of leadership is important to us in this transition. [Conley’s] credentials as a community leader and orthopedic executive are exceptional.”

Conley has also worked with OrthoWorx and the Orthopedic Capital Clinic project since its inception. “I know from my personal experience how important Warsaw and the surrounding region are to orthopedics and in turn how important orthopedics is to Warsaw, the region, the state of Indiana, the nation and the world. Without a supportive economic landscape and the human capital it wouldn’t be possible for Warsaw to be the Orthopedic Capital of the World.”

She should make a fine executive, having the good sense not follow that comment with, “You didn’t built that.”

Conley began her career in orthopedics at Zimmer in 1983 in Clinical Research. She held increasingly responsible positions in marketing and management, including President, Global Products Group; President, Zimmer Reconstructive; and General Manager, Zimmer Canada. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from Ball State University and an MBA from the Miller College of Business, also at Ball State University. She will begin her work as OrthoWorx CEO on September 10, 2012.

Under Floyd’s leadership, the organization made considerable progress in advancing a feasibility study that is exploring the aforementioned Orthopedic Capital Clinic project. The clinic would serve as a centerpiece project to bring world-class orthopedic clinical research and education to the Warsaw area.