CARY – Todd Pope, longtime CEO of surigcal robotics firm TransEnterix, and partners have sold his latest venture and as part of that deal he will become CEO of the acquiring company.
On Tuesday, Pope’s latest venture UV Innovators was acquired by Ireland-based WellAir. Financial terms were not disclosed.
What was disclosed is that Pope and two of his fellow UV Innovators – based in Cary – will be joining WellAir. Its focus is providing clean air solutions.
“I am proud and energized to join the WellAir team at such an important inflection point, just weeks after receiving FDA clearance for the Defend 1050,” Pope said in a statement. “COVID-19 has put a spotlight on the need for advances in high-powered chemical-free disinfection and air purification technologies, in healthcare settings and everywhere people come together. The combination of these two companies creates a broad, innovative solution to meet the needs of organizations and industries around the world to enable safer living, working, and healing spaces.”
Pope is executive chair of UVI. The firm’s CEO, Nick Medendrop, and CTO, Steve Grenon, also will join WellAir.
The appointments take effect when the deal closes.
“We are thrilled about the combination of WellAir and UVI, who have a shared mission of managing infectious diseases and creating safe environments across the globe,” said Steve Wordsworth, the investor backing UVI.
The combined firm will focus on a surface disinfection device developed by UVI and WellAir products, including the “Defend 1050,” a portable air cleaning system.
“Combining UVI’s handheld surface disinfecting device with WellAir’s best-in-class air cleaning platform creates a unique, broad spectrum and highly scalable solution to enable safe, healthy, and productive spaces for all individuals,” said Bill McCabe, chairman of the board of WellAir. “I am excited to have Todd join WellAir and to lead the Company through its next stages of growth. His experience bringing innovative medical technologies to market on a global scale will be invaluable as we look to fulfill our mission to protect indoor spaces for all individuals.”
Pope served as resident operating partner at Revival Healthcare Capital after leaving Morrisville-based TransEnterix. He also has worked at Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific.
