LSIPR 50 2016: Paul LaViolette and Debra Liebert

Name: Paul LaViolette

Organisation: SV Life Sciences

Position: Managing partner

Paul LaViolette is the managing partner and chief operating officer (COO) at venture capital firm SV Life Sciences (SVLS). During his 30 years in life sciences investment LaViolette has gained extensive experience in product development, operations and commercialisation of medical device organisations.

He has served on numerous boards, including those of Advamed, Urologix and Percutaneous Valve Technologies, and has also assumed board positions for existing SVLS companies such as Thoratec, DC Devices and Cameron Health. He is a member of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association, ensuring that his understanding of the industry is constantly in line with developing technologies and regulations.

Before joining SVLS in 2009, he was COO at Boston Scientific Corporation. During his time there, the company’s revenues grew by more than 20 times and he engineered more than 20 acquisitions for the organisation, including that of long-term competitor Guidant for $27.2 billion.