Sep 25, 2001
Guidant Appoints Ralph Hall Deputy General Counsel, Litigation and Compliance

Indianapolis, IN and St. Paul, MN - Guidant Corporation (NYSE and PCX: GDT) today announced that Ralph Hall, currently secretary and general counsel, cardiac rhythm management, has been promoted to the newly created position of deputy general counsel, litigation and compliance, effective Oct. 1, 2001.

In this new role, Hall will develop and manage Guidant's litigation strategies and tactics to support the company's global business objectives. Additionally, Hall will serve as counsel on all matters relating to corporate compliance.

"We look forward to Ralph's contributions in this strategically important role. By effectively planning our strategy and tactics and strengthening our corporate litigation capabilities Guidant-wide, we can achieve even better results and enhance our competitive advantage going forward," commented Debra Minott, vice president, general counsel and secretary, Guidant Corporation. "We are pleased that Ralph will be assuming this important role. His extensive and successful litigation experiences, as well as his depth of knowledge of the business, make him well suited for this position."

"Ralph has made significant contributions to Guidant's performance during his nine years with cardiac rhythm management. His leadership in intellectual property, acquisition, and compliance matters has been particularly valuable. We now look forward to his achievements in his new position," said Fred McCoy, president, cardiac rhythm management, Guidant Corporation.

Hall was named to his current post in 1992 when Guidant's cardiac rhythm management business was part of Eli Lilly and Company. Hall joined Eli Lilly and Company in 1981 as staff counsel. In 1987, he was promoted to counsel, energy & environmental affairs. Prior to that, Hall was with the Indianapolis law firm of Baker & Daniels. Hall graduated magna cum laude from Indiana University with an honors degree in history. He graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan School of Law. While at Michigan, he was a Weymouth Kirkland Scholar, an instructor in the legal reading and writing program and a moot court finalist. Hall is currently serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Law School. He served as an adjunct professor of law at the Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, from 1988 to 1992.

Guidant Corporation pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to 7 million cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. The company, driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture of 10,000 employees, develops, manufactures and markets a broad array of products and services that enable less invasive care for some of life's most threatening medical conditions.