Executive team

Dig Howitt

CEO & President

Dig joined Cochlear in 2000 and has a wealth of experience across the company in roles including Chief Operating Officer, SVP, Manufacturing and Logistics and President, Asia Pacific. Prior to joining Cochlear, Dig worked for Boral and Boston Consulting Group. Dig was appointed CEO & President on 3 January 2018.

Qualifications: BE (Hons), MBA

Brent Cubis

Chief Financial Officer

Joined Cochlear in early 2017 with more than 30 years' experience working in senior finance roles across a broad range of global industries and companies - including health, media (PBL Media) and property (Westfield, Bankers Trust, Sheraton). He qualified as a CA at Deloitte, which included a transfer to the USA. Brent has also been a Director for various charities and is also an Alumni Leader for UNSW Business School.

Qualifications: BComm, CA

Jan Janssen

Chief Technology Officer

Jan leads a team of over 300 highly qualified engineers and scientists who implement the R&D strategy. This includes responsibility for identifying and developing cutting-edge technologies and commercial products.

Jan joined Cochlear in 2000 as Head of the Cochlear Technology Centre based in Belgium, having previously worked with Philips Electronics where he was involved in R&D in the fields of high-tech electronics and cochlear implants. Jan was promoted to Senior Vice President, Design and Development in 2005 and became the Chief Technology Officer in 2017.

Qualifications: MScEE

Tony Manna

President, Americas Region

Tony is responsible for the development and execution of the strategic direction for our North American operations.

Tony joined Cochlear in 2005. Has over 30 years’ medical device experience, including senior commercial management roles at BEI Medical and Gyrus Medical. Prior roles in Cochlear include VP, Sales USA, General Manager, Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions, USA and President, Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions, Sweden.

Qualifications: BS EET

Richard Brook

President, EMEA & Latin American Region

Richard is responsible for the development and execution of the strategic direction for all our operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Latin America. This includes sales in over 60 countries.

Before joining Cochlear in 2003, Richard held senior roles in Guidant Corporation and Alaris Medical Systems. He has over 20 years’ experience in the medical device industry.

Qualifications: BSc Management, MBA

Anthony Bishop

President, Asia Pacific Region

Anthony was appointed President, Asia Pacific in July 2016. He is responsible for the development and execution of the strategic direction for all our operations in Australia, Asia and the South Pacific.

Anthony joined Cochlear in July 2015 as Director of Marketing and Business Development, Asia Pacific. Prior to Cochlear, Anthony spent 21 years at Johnson & Johnson Medical in various roles including marketing, sales and general management around the world as well as Managing Director, Johnson & Johnson Medical, Australia/New Zealand.

Qualifications: BBus (Hons), MManagement

Rom Mendel

President, Acoustics

Rom is responsible for the development and execution of the strategic direction for our Acoustics Division and is the General Manager (VD) for Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions, Sweden.

Rom joined Cochlear in 2007. He has over 20 years’ experience in various commercial roles within hearing care and other high-tech industries in Denmark, USA and Sweden, including senior commercial management roles at Oticon and Eicon Networks. Prior roles in Cochlear include Director of Marketing, Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions, Sweden and General Manager, Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions, USA.

Qualifications: MSc International Business, BSc

Stu Sayers

President, Services

Stu was appointed as Cochlear’s inaugural President, Services in May 2016. The Services business provides aftercare services for Cochlear recipients and professionals, generating revenue from post-implant products and other offerings.

Stu comes with a wealth of experience in establishing and building customer-focused B2C and B2B service businesses, online and at scale. Most recently, Stu led the Amazon subsidiary Audible in Asia Pacific. Prior to Amazon, Stu ran E*TRADE and then Yahoo!7 in Australia and New Zealand. He previously held senior roles with Procter & Gamble and McKinsey & Company.

Qualifications: BEc (Hons), MBA

Dean Phizacklea

Senior Vice President, Global Marketing

Dean joined Cochlear in June 2016. Dean has responsibility for product marketing and commercialisation, consumer marketing, innovation, market access, market insights and corporate communications.

Dean has more than 20 years' experience in medical devices and pharmaceuticals, covering a range of senior commercial roles in the US, Japan, Europe and Australia. Prior to joining Cochlear, Dean led Global Strategic Marketing for Abbott Diabetes Care. Other roles include General Manager for Abbott's pharmaceutical and diabetes care businesses in Australia/New Zealand and commercial roles in Asia with AstraZeneca.

Qualifications: BSc Microbiology, MBA

David Hackshall

Chief Information Officer

David joined Cochlear in July 2015 as Cochlear’s first Chief Information Officer and has global responsibility for the Company’s information technology strategy and management. David’s focus is to ensure Cochlear has the platforms in place to deliver and drive growth. This capability is critical in connecting Cochlear with both professionals and recipients, and evolving Cochlear into both a business-to-business as well as business-to-customer organisation. 

Prior to Cochlear, David was Chief Information Officer at Wesfarmers Insurance Ltd and brings over 15 years of executive experience across the Communications, Logistics and Finance sectors.

Qualifications: Dip FN, MIT, MBA

Greg Bodkin

Senior Vice President, Supply Chain & Operational Excellence

Greg has responsibility for around 1000 Cochlear employees who work in the Supply Chain functional areas of New Product Industrialisation, Procurement, Manufacturing, Logistics and Warranty & Repair. These functions have responsibility for enabling the technologies developed in Design and Development to be supplied as commercial products in Cochlear global markets. In addition to these functions, he also has responsibility for the Cochlear Program Office and management of the Global Property portfolio.

Greg joined Cochlear in 2007 as Head of Supply with 20 years’ prior experience in supply chain management and operations consulting positions, including appointments at Taylor Ceramic Engineering, Warman International Ltd, Weir Minerals PLC and the National Australia bank. In August 2014 he was promoted to the position of Senior Vice President Manufacturing and Logistics. In January 2018, he was promoted to the position of Senior Vice President Supply Chain and Operational Excellence.

Qualifications: BE (Hons), MComm (UNSW)

Jennifer Hornery

Senior Vice President, People & Culture

Jennifer joined Cochlear in 2008 as Senior HR Business Partner with responsibility for Manufacturing and Logistics and Safety and Wellness before taking on responsibility for People & Culture Business Partnering for Cochlear's global functions in 2016. Jennifer was appointed SVP People & Culture in 2017.

Prior to Cochlear, Jennifer worked in commercial, strategy and HR leadership roles across a number of industries within Australia and the USA, including senior positions at Campbell Arnotts and Booz & Company.

Qualifications: BComm, MBA