Adam Elsesser
Director, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Prior to founding Penumbra, Inc., Mr. Elsesser was the President of Boston Scientific SMART and prior to that the President and CEO of Smart Therapeutics. As President of Boston Scientific SMART, he led the successful development of Wingspan, the first self-expanding stent to treat intra-cranial atherosclerotic disease as well as the development and commercialization of subsequent generations of Neuroform, the first aneurysm stent. Mr. Elsesser also led the successful integration efforts during the merger of Smart Therapeutics and Boston Scientific. At Smart Therapeutics, he helped found the company, led it through development, regulatory approval and commercialization of its first product as well as the funding of Smart Therapeutics with over $15 million raised in three rounds. Subsequently, Mr. Elsesser successfully negotiated an acquisition of Smart Therapeutics by Boston Scientific. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees at the San Francisco Day School. Prior to his experience in the medical device industry, he was a partner at the law firm of Shartsis, Friese, LLP. Mr. Elsesser received a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from Hastings College of the Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Hastings Law Journal.