Sr. Leadership TeamMercedes Aycinena , Chief Executive Officer Mercedes serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Komet. Mercedes joined Komet USA in 2021 as Head of Marketing and Product Management and was appointed Chief of Staff in April 2022. In August 2022, Mercedes was promoted to Chief Executive Officer. As the CEO, Mercedes strives to uphold Komet USA’s culture and values, fostering an environment of integrity, innovation, and accountability. She ensures that the company is aligned with Komet’s original mission and values, while constantly promoting an environment of diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being. Mercedes is committed to driving the evolution of Komet USA to drive scalable, sustainable growth. Originally from Madrid, Spain, Aycinena brings 20 plus years of diversified global experience in healthcare. She holds a bachelor’s degree from University San Pablo CEU (Madrid, Spain) and attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for a post-grad certification. She obtained her master's degree in marketing communications at Loyola University Chicago. Eric Hymes, VP of Sales and Business Development Eric Hymes serves Komet USA as the Vice President of Sales and Business Development. Eric joins Komet following a career in various leadership roles ranging from Sales, Marketing, General Management, M&A, and consulting in the medical device industry over the past 25 years. Most recently, Eric served as the Vice President of Business Development for North America where his role encompassed strategic pricing, clinical education and academies, enterprise marketing, PMO and channel sales with a corporate P&L of $1.6B. In his role at Komet, Eric will build, lead and develop the sales team and strategies in consumables and capital equipment marketplaces. Eric attended Radford University in Virginia and holds a BS in Psychology. He also is a veteran of the US Army as a Combat Medic, which was a catalyst in his pursuing a corporate career in healthcare. Laura Dowe, Director of Finance Laura Dowe serves as the Director of Finance at Komet. In her role as the Director of Finance, Laura is responsible for overseeing financial operations and strategic financial planning at Komet USA. She manages the financial and accounting team, in addition to supervising IT, with the objective of streamlining processes for both customers and employees, by providing the tools necessary to meet their needs. Originally from Pennsylvania, she came to North Carolina to pursue her degree in Accounting. Laura has been in the accounting and manufacturing world for 20 plus years with experience from small companies to the large corporations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Catawba College. Justin Zegar, Head of Marketing and Product Management Justin Zegar serves as the Head of Marketing and Product Management. Justin brings over 15 years of experience developing and successfully implementing marketing strategies, leading high-performing teams, developing talent, collaborating with key partners, and aligning organizations behind a clear and impactful marketing vision. Justin has worked in public and private companies ranging from small to large in the dental, services, and retail industries. In his role at Komet, Justin leads the evolution of Komet's marketing and product management strategy, focusing on product positioning, commercializing innovation, and strengthening our competitiveness in North America. Justin received a BS in Marketing with a Certificate in Professional Sales from Northern Illinois University. He obtained his MBA from Clemson University. John Leone, Director of Sales - West Region and Endodontics John Leone serves as the Director of Sales - West Region and Endodontics. John brings over 21 years of experience in the dental industry. During his four-year tenure at Komet USA, John has held roles as an Endodontic Sales Representative, National Accounts Manager, and - most recently - West Regional Manager. With his experience in consumables, capital equipment, and education, John leads the sales team in expanding Komet USA's customer base on both the endodontic and rotary portfolios across various customer segments. John lives in Phoenix, Arizona.