Baxter International Inc. announced that its board of directors has elected Lawrence T. Gibbons to the corporate officer position of corporate vice president - global quality management.

Gibbons, 52, joins Baxter from Tyco Healthcare, where he served as vice president of quality assurance and regulatory affairs. Gibbons will report to Baxter's chairman and chief executive officer and will be responsible for leading the quality function and overseeing the implementation of the company's various quality programs.

"Larry brings with him a wealth of experience and proven track record in implementing broad quality initiatives and systems across large organizations. He will play a significant role in leading our quality organization in assuring alignment with product integrity goals and in driving continuous process improvement across our global operations," said Harry M. Jansen Kraemer, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer.

Gibbons spent more than 20 years in various quality and regulatory positions with increasing responsibility at Kendall Company, which was acquired by Tyco Healthcare in 1994. Prior to joining Kendall Company, Gibbons was an investigator with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Boston District Office.

Gibbons received his bachelor's degree in science from the University of Massachusetts.