GPRO GoPro Inc

SAN DIEGO, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Gen-Probe (NASDAQ: GPRO) today announced three changes to its leadership team in support of its future growth.  Brian B. Hansen has been promoted to senior vice president, global sales and service.  Michael J. Watts has been appointed vice president of LIFECODES and Prodesse; and Albert S. Kildani has joined the Company as senior director, investor relations and corporate communications.

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"These changes further strengthen Gen-Probe's ability to drive profitable, global growth, and reflect our ability to retain and attract talented individuals to our team," said Carl Hull, Gen-Probe's chairman and chief executive officer.  "Brian's efforts have been critical to our commercial success over the last six years and this promotion reflects his many accomplishments in helping us build a world-class sales and customer support organization.  Mike has done an exceptional job leading our investor relations program while communicating the Company's strategies and results to the markets credibly and consistently.  A number of us have worked with Al over the years in various capacities and he has known the Company and its industry for many years, which will make for a smooth transition as he replaces Mike."

Hansen has been with Gen-Probe for over six years and has led the Company's highly respected sales and service organization in the United States in a number of increasingly responsible roles during that time.  In his new position, he will oversee the continued geographic expansion of Gen-Probe's commercial organization throughout the world.

Watts has managed Gen-Probe's investor relations and corporate communications efforts for over eight years.  In his new role, he will lead the Company's efforts to profitably grow its recently acquired business units focusing on transplant diagnostics and infectious disease testing.

Kildani joins Gen-Probe after a 14-year career on Wall Street as a sell-side research analyst, investment banker, and buy-side analyst in the healthcare space with a focus on the molecular diagnostics industry.  Al has strong existing relationships with many of the Company's institutional shareholders and research analysts.

About Gen-Probe

Gen-Probe is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of rapid, accurate and cost-effective molecular diagnostic products and services that are used primarily to diagnose human diseases, screen donated human blood, and ensure transplant compatibility. Gen-Probe is headquartered in San Diego and employs approximately 1,400 people. For more information, go to http://www.gen-probe.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about Gen-Probe's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements.  These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as believe, will, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan and would.  For example, statements concerning future financial performance, the development and commercialization of new products, regulatory approvals or clearances, customer adoption, and results of future clinical studies are all forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance.  They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied.  Some of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: (i) the possibility that we may not meet our financial goals; (ii) the risk that our commercial expansion efforts will not be successful or profitable; (iii) the risk that we may not integrate our recent acquisitions effectively; and (iv) the risk that we will not be able to retain key executives or attract new ones.  The foregoing describes some, but not all, of the factors that could affect our ability to achieve results described in any forward-looking statements.  For additional information about risks and uncertainties we face and a discussion of our financial statements and footnotes, see documents we file with the SEC, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and all subsequent periodic reports.  We assume no obligation and expressly disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of subsequent events.

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SOURCE Gen-Probe