PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) today announced that its president and chief executive officer, Dow R. Wilson, has been appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to the newly established President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA). Mr. Wilson is among a group of 15 private sector leaders who were hand-picked to advise the President, through the Secretary of Commerce, on ways of strengthening commercial engagement between the United States and Africa.

Dow R. Wilson, president and CEO of Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
As a world leading supplier of cancer treatment and X-ray imaging technology, Varian's mission is to focus energy on saving lives. In recent years, under Wilson's leadership, the company has worked to expand its customer base in Africa and other parts of the world where cancer patients tend to be underserved.


"We have identified and taken advantage of trade and investment opportunities in Africa, built lasting commercial partnerships with the African public and private sectors, and contributed to the development of Africa's health infrastructure," Wilson said. "Our goal is to address the increasing cancer burden in Africa by serving as a strategic partner to African governments and the African private sector to define and implement national cancer initiatives and programs for the benefit of African cancer patients."

Over the last 20 years, Varian has installed some 100 radiotherapy treatment systems at sites across the African continent. The company has also established a managing director position for Africa that is based in South Africa, and is working to equip six cancer centers in Algeria through an agreement with the Algerian government. "This is part of a larger Varian strategy to operate more locally in key markets in Africa, and deepen our presence through strategic hubs throughout the continent," Wilson said. "I'm excited about the opportunity to contribute to the important work of this Presidential Advisory Council."

The PAC-DBIA was created as part of an Executive Order, signed by President Barack Obama in August to promote broad-based economic growth in the United States and Africa through mutual trade and investment.

"Economic growth on the Continent will continue to drive demand for U.S. exports, which will ultimately help create jobs at home and provide valuable investment opportunities for U.S. businesses," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, in a press release announcing the appointments to the PAC-DBIA. "With Africa being home to six of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world, the President's Advisory Council will provide expert counsel on strengthening our partnerships with African countries to leverage opportunities for U.S. companies committed for the long term."

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