Medtronic Inc., which faces probes into its financial ties with several prominent surgeons, said Thursday it has hired a new general counsel to handle its worldwide legal affairs, as well as help craft new standards of transparency in the way the company works with physicians.
In addition to his duties as the company's new senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, D. Cameron Findlay will participate in a recently launched initiative to develop new standards for "clarity and transparency."
The Fridley-based medical technology company is facing inquiries by Congress and the U.S. Department of Justice.
The company said it will announce new transparency standards in coming weeks. Medtronic supports pending federal legislation to make company-physician relationships public.
Before joining Medtronic, Findlay was executive vice president and general counsel at Aon Corp., the world's largest insurance broker, based in Chicago. Prior to that, he served in the No. 2 position at the U.S. Department of Labor from 2001 to 2003.
Findlay was a partner in the international law firm of Sidley Austin LLP, where he practiced commercial, financial, securities, antitrust and appellate law. He was also deputy assistant to the president and counselor to the chief of staff in the George H.W. Bush White House and was a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia.
Findlay received his law degree from Harvard in 1987 and a master's degree in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford University. His undergraduate degree in political science came from Northwestern University.
He replaces Terrance Carlson, who joined the company in 2004 and announced plans to retire last March. Findlay's first day is Aug. 24.
