AVITA Medical Welcomes Joe Woody to Board as Lou Panaccio Retires
VALENCIA, Calif., Jan. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AVITA Medical®, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCEL), a leader in therapeutic acute wound care solutions, has announced the appointment of Joe Woody as a new non-executive Director. This leadership change also marks the retirement of Lou Panaccio, who has served on the Board since July 2014, including a tenure as Chairman until August 2025.
New Appointment Strengthens Leadership at AVITA Medical
Cary Vance, Interim CEO of AVITA Medical, expressed enthusiasm about Woody's appointment, stating, “We are pleased to welcome Joe to the Board. His extensive track record leading global med-tech companies and driving commercial excellence will be invaluable as we continue to scale AVITA Medical’s growth.”
Lou Panaccio's contributions to the company were substantial. Vance added, “Lou has been instrumental in shaping the Company’s commercial and operational strategy for more than a decade, and we are deeply grateful for his dedication and leadership.”
Joe Woody's Extensive Experience in the Healthcare Sector
Woody brings more than two decades of experience to AVITA Medical, most recently serving as CEO of Avanos Medical from 2017 to 2024. Prior to that, he was President and CEO of Acelity Holdings. His distinguished career also includes senior roles at Covidien and Smith & Nephew.
In addition to his executive roles, Woody has contributed to the medical technology sector by serving on the Board of Directors of AdvaMed, Inc., the largest trade association in the U.S. dedicated to medical device, diagnostics, and digital health technology.
Commitment to Long-Term Value Creation
Jan Stern Reed, Lead Independent Director, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Joe to the Board of Directors. His appointment strengthens our Board’s depth of experience and supports our commitment to long-term value creation. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Lou for his years of dedicated service, steady leadership, and significant contributions to the Company.”
Woody himself remarked, “I’m honored to join AVITA Medical’s Board at such a pivotal stage. I look forward to working with my fellow directors and the leadership team as the Company executes on its vision and continues delivering innovative acute wound care solutions to patients worldwide.”
About AVITA Medical
AVITA Medical, Inc. is at the forefront of therapeutic acute wound care, delivering transformative solutions designed to optimize wound healing and accelerate patient recovery. The centerpiece of their offerings is the RECELL® System, which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating thermal burns and trauma wounds.
- RECELL®: Utilizes a patient's skin to create Spray-On Skin™ Cells, enhancing clinical outcomes.
- PermeaDerm®: A biosynthetic wound matrix, held under exclusive marketing rights in the U.S.
- Cohealyx®: An AVITA Medical-branded collagen-based dermal matrix.
Internationally, the RECELL System maintains regulatory approvals for a variety of healing applications, including in Europe, Australia, and Japan (excluding RECELL GO®).
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ significantly. AVITA Medical is under no obligation to update these statements, except as legally required.
For additional insights into potential risks, please refer to the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and other publicly available filings.
Contact Information
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
Ben Atkins
Phone: +1-805 341 1571