St Jude Medical marks passing of veteran board member

St Jude Medical has issued a tribute to long-serving board member Thomas Garrett, after he passed away following a battle with multiple myeloma.

Mr Garrett was the longest-tenured member of its board of directors, having taken up the position in 1979, shortly after the foundation of the company.

He played a crucial role in advising St Jude Medical on key decisions over the following three decades, helping the firm to navigate various legal matters and offering insight into the appointment of more than six chief executives.

In return, the company renamed its scholarship scheme to the Thomas H Garrett St Jude Medical Scholarship Program last year, meaning it will continue to honour his memory in future.

Daniel Starks, chairman, president and chief executive officer of St Jude Medical, said: "For the past three decades, Tom has embodied the profound integrity and commitment to excellence that defines our industry. We thank him for the many contributions he has made to St Jude Medical."

Mr Garrett has helped the company to become a global leader in medical technology, generating sales of $5.61 billion (3.54 billion pounds) in 2011.