Hany Massarany as Director of Asia Pacific

    TUCSON, Ariz., June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: VMSI), the leading global supplier of automated instrument reagent
systems to anatomical pathology, today announced the appointment of Jay
Meridew as its Vice President of Finance.  The Company also announced that
Hany Massarany has been appointed Director of Asia Pacific operations.
    "Jay will significantly strengthen the capabilities of our finance
function," commented Chris Gleeson, Ventana's President and CEO.  "Rapid
growth has taxed our asset management and control systems," added Gleeson.
"Jay brings the experience and skills to Ventana that we need to manage a
rapidly expanding product line and customer base."
    Jay Meridew has spent most of his professional career at Tucson-based
McCulloch Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of gas and electric
powered lawn, garden and hardware hand tools with revenues in excess of
$200 million.  From 1995 on, Jay was Vice President, Finance and
Administration and Chief Financial Officer at McCulloch with responsibility
for accounting, budgeting and forecasting, information systems, legal, risk
management and finance.  From 1986 to 1992, Jay was the Director of Corporate
Accounting and then the Vice President, Controller of McCulloch.  Jay started
his career at Deloitte & Touche and is a CPA.
    John Patience, Ventana's Vice-Chairman, added, "Asset management is an
important corporate priority at Ventana given the increase we experienced in
the days-sales-outstanding of our accounts receivable in late 1998.  While we
have significantly reduced our days-sales-outstanding during the first and
second quarters of 1999, we want to build world-class capabilities in all
facets of working capital and fixed asset management."
    Ventana's current Vice President of Finance and CFO, Pierre Sice, will
transition his responsibilities to Jay Meridew over the next month and leave
the Company in early July.  "Pierre has helped the Company through an
important growth phase," commented John Patience.  "Over the past 2 years our
revenues have doubled from $24.1 million in 1996 to $47.7 million in 1998."
    Management also reported the appointment of Hany Massarany as the
Company's Director of Asia Pacific operations.  "Hany will be based in
Australia and responsible for all operations in the Asia Pacific Region except
Japan," commented Chris Gleeson.  "I have worked closely with Hany for many
years and believe he will substantially build Ventana's base of business
throughout Asia and particularly in Australia, Singapore, Thailand, China,
Korea and Taiwan."  Prior to accepting his position with Ventana, Hany
Massarany spent 14 years in the medical diagnostics industry in various sales,
marketing and service positions.  During the past 4 years he has held senior
sales management positions in both Chiron Diagnostics and Bayer Diagnostics'
U.S. operations as a corporate Vice President.
    Safe Harbor Statement:  Statements in this press release which are not
strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements that are made pursuant to
the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.  Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, which may
cause the company's actual results in the future to differ materially from the
expected results.  The risks and uncertainties that may affect the results of
the company's business are described in the company's specific filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
    Ventana develops, manufactures and markets instrument/reagent systems that
automate tissue preparation and slide staining in histology laboratories
worldwide.  Ventana's systems are important tools used in the diagnosis and
treatment of cancer and infectious diseases.
    For more information on Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. via facsimile at no
additional cost, simply dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter the stock symbol "VMSI".

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