Stryker Corporation has increased the size of its board of directors to nine by the election of Roch Doliveux as a director.

Stryker said that Dr Doliveux has served as chief executive officer since 2005 and chairman of the executive committee of UCB SA, a global biopharmaceutical company.

Dr Doliveux has previously been a chief executive officer of Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals and president of Schering-Plough International, a subsidiary of Schering-Plough Corporation.

Stephen MacMillan, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Stryker, said: “Roch brings an outstanding combination of talents and experiences as a globally-minded healthcare executive with a strong focus on patients and innovation.”

Stryker provides orthopaedic implants as well as medical and surgical equipment to help people lead more active and more satisfying lives.