Our latest installment of leadership news in the eyecare space includes STAAR Surgical’s recent appointment of not one, but two interim co-CEOs, as well as the appointment of an industry executive to the American College of Eye Technicians’ (ACET) volunteer advisory board.
Let’s start with STAAR Surgical.
Headquartered in California, the medical device company specializes in developing and manufacturing its unique line of implantable ocular lenses across the globe.
More precisely: These lenses extend to STAAR Surgical’s line of FDA-approved implantable collamer lenses (ICLs), designed as phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs)—see here for a look at this portfolio.
So who are these co-CEOs?
Effective earlier this month, STAAR’s Board of Directors appointed Deborah Andrews and Warren Foust to serve as interim co-CEOs.
Take note: They succeeded Stephen C. Farrell, who was named CEO in early 2025.
And what do we know about them?
Up until her retirement in 2020, Andrews spent 25 years at STAAR serving in varying executive positions (including chief financial officer [CFO] in two separate instances).
- She returned to the company in March 2025 as interim CFO before being appointed CFO in June 2025.
- See here for more on her background.
Meanwhile, Foust was appointed chief operating officer at STAAR in 2023 before assuming the dual role of president and COO in March 2025.
- Prior to joining STAAR, he served in various senior leadership positions at Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Aventis, and DePuy Synthes.
- See here for more on his experience.
Explain the “interim” portion of their titles.
STAAR has established a search committee composed of Board members to initiate a “global search” for the company’s next permanent leader.
- The interview process is reported to include both internal and external candidates.
And do we know the reason for this executive change?
We do. Former CEO Farrell stepped down from his role on Jan. 31 as part of a cooperation agreement with Broadwood Partners (a major shareholder in the company).
- In announcing the news of his departure, Farrell was thanked for his role in “leading STAAR out of a difficult situation in early 2025 and back to profitability and cash flow generation.”
This agreement also involved:
- STAAR Board Chair Elizabeth Yeu, MD, and Farrell stepping down as members of the Board
- The Board’s expansion from six to seven members
- The addition of two STAAR stockholders as Board members:
- Broadwood Partners’s Neal C. Bradsher and Richard T. LeBuhn
- Bradsher has since been named Board Chair
- Yunqi Capital’s Christopher Wang
- Yunqi Capital is also a STAAR shareholder
- Broadwood Partners’s Neal C. Bradsher and Richard T. LeBuhn
Interesting …
Indeed. And take note: The cooperation agreement was announced just one week after STAAR’s Jan. 6 announcement regarding the termination of its proposed merger agreement with Alcon.
- See our coverage on that situation.
Importantly: Both Broadwood Partners and Yungi Capital were vocal in their opposition to the proposed deal.
Alrighty, now let’s move on to this ACET update.
Sure thing. But first, a refresh on the organization is in order:
What it is: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers education and certification via an 8-week, online, instructor-facilitated learning program for adults seeking a career in eyecare.
- Its founder: Cynthia Matossian, MD, FACS, founder of Matossian Eye Associates and a leader in refractive cataract surgery and dry eye disease.
And its purpose: To expand the eyecare workforce by connecting adult learners to high-demand careers.
So what’s the leadership update?
ACET has named a new member to its volunteer advisory board: Hayley G. Boling.
Referred to as a “third-generation medical entrepreneur," Boling is CEO of Boling Vision Center and its affiliated eyecare business.
- Her role includes leading a multi-site team consisting of a Joint Commission-accredited surgery center, in-house optical lab, and a mobile eye care unit.
And who else is on this board?
Boling joins three other eyecare-affiliated executives and physicians:
- Jason D. Menzo (CEO of Foundation Fighting Blindness)
- Heather Bush-Reyes, COT (director, Product Management at Compulink Healthcare Solutions)
- Jay Kenneth Mattheis, MD, MSPH, FACS (assistant professor, Ophthalmology at Loma Linda University; director, dry eye clinic)
Click here (and scroll down) for a look at ACET’s entire leadership team.
Nice! Last question: Where can I learn more about the organization's training program?
Check out all the details here (and see our recent coverage on it).