[AB] – Advanced Bionics, the global leader in cochlear implant technology and a company of the Sonova Group, is proud to announce it has been awarded a total of five Stevie Awards from the Ninth Annual International Business Awards. The Stevie – derived from the Greek name Stephen, which means “crowned” – were created to honor the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and professionals worldwide. They are judged by more than 200 executives from around the globe and are considered one of the world’s premier business awards competitions.

AB, one of this year’s big winners, received the following Stevie Awards in these categories:

Gold for Most Innovative Company of the Year in Canada and the U.S.A. Gold for AB’s Neptune Processor – Best New Product or Service of the Year, Health & Pharmaceuticals Gold for AB’s Neptune Processor Campaign – Marketing Campaign of the Year, Health Products & Services Bronze for Customer Service Department of the Year Bronze for Creative Department of the Year

“We are honored by this tremendous acknowledgment of our innovation leadership and best-in-class service,” said Hansjuerg Emch, Group Vice President of the Sonova Medical Division, which AB falls under. “Everyone at Advanced Bionics is deeply committed to putting recipients and hearing professionals first in all that we do, from our dedicated customer service team to our creative marketing that serves to inform and inspire. It’s incredibly rewarding to receive recognition of this commitment. And on the innovation front, we are thrilled with the success of Neptune, which has been a true industry breakthrough.”

The other awards already garnered by AB’s Neptune, the world’s first and only swimmable sound processor, include a Red Dot Award: Product Design 2012; a 2012 Silver Shaggie Award, in recognition of excellence in product design from the Industrial Designers Society of America Northwest; and a 2012 Medical Design Excellence Awards finalist honor. Adding the two Gold Stevie Awards bestowed to the Neptune sound processor and its associated marketing campaign makes for a grand total of five awards won by the groundbreaking product since its introduction earlier this year.

“We’re really pleased that not only has our Neptune processor been honored, which has already won several other awards, but also that AB, as a company, has been distinguished for our innovation and service,” said Dr. Gerhard Roehrlein, CEO and CTO of Advanced Bionics, LLC. “To be acknowledged as one of the most innovative companies in the world is a great validation of the extensive time and effort we put into developing our advanced technology.”

Neptune’s success, both in awards garnered and high industry demand, is directly attributable to its innovative waterproof technology–the only of its kind in the market. Recipients can wear it in the bath, shower or pool, which is crucial for learning, communication and safety. In addition, Neptune offers the world’s only freestyle design for the most flexible wearing options of any sound processor on the market. It can be worn virtually anywhere or any way a recipient chooses–in the hair, on an arm, under a collar, in a pocket–in a variety of fun fashion-forward colors or tucked away discreetly out of site. Neptune also comes fully compatible with the industry’s most advanced hearing technology, including ClearVoice, HiRes Fidelity 120, and AutoSound for the best possible hearing in all environments.

For more information about Advanced Bionics or the award-winning Neptune processor, visit AdvancedBionics.com.

About Advanced Bionics

Advanced Bionics is a global leader in developing the most advanced cochlear implant systems in the world. Founded in 1993 and a subsidiary of the Sonova Group since 2009, AB develops cutting-edge cochlear implant technology that allows recipients to hear their best.

AB offers the most sophisticated cochlear implant system on the market, the HiResolution Bionic Ear System, with five times more sound resolution than its competitors, designed to help recipients hear in noisy settings and enjoy the full dimensions of music.

With sales in over 50 countries and a proven track record for developing high-performing, state-of-the-art products, AB’s talented group of technologists and professionals from all over the world are driven to succeed, work with integrity and stay firmly committed to quality.