Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> November 24, 2003

CLINTON SEVERSON – ABAXIS INC (ABAX)

CLINTON SEVERSON is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Abaxis, Inc., of Union City, California, a manufacturer of point-of-care blood chemistry analyzers for both the medical and veterinary markets worldwide. Mr. Severson has over 28 years of experience in building and managing successful businesses in the in vitro diagnostic field under difficult operating environments. Under his management since 1996, Abaxis has seen increasing sales growth and profits, with a turnaround in margin growth, while continuing to expand the business into new markets. Prior to Abaxis, Mr. Severson was President and CEO of MAST Immunosystems, Inc., of Mountain View, California, a medical diagnostic company focused on the manufacture and distribution of reagent and instrument systems, where he was responsible for seven years of profitable sales growth and increasing net earnings and cash flow. Before MAST, Mr. Severson held various management positions with 3M Diagnostic Systems of Santa Clara, California, ending as General Manager, where he brought the company from operating loss to profitability. Profile
TWST: We'd like to begin with a brief historical sketch of ABAXIS, Inc.,

and a picture of things as they are now.

Mr. Severson: ABAXIS is a point-of-care blood chemistry company, so we

provide