It’s been a minute since our last executive update in the eyecare space … so without further ado, let’s get you the new leaders taking over the helm at Samsara Vision, Staar Surgical Company, Claris Bio, Stuart Therapeutics, Bausch + Lomb, and Wills Eye Hospital.
We’ll start with the most recent: Samsara.
The New Jersey-based, private specialty medical device company kicked off September by promoting its (now former) chief commercial officer (CCO) to president and CEO.
That executive: Jason Herod.
Let’s get some background on Herod.
Herod joined Samsara in 2021 as Vice President Commercial, International Markets following 15 years with Alcon (most recently serving as Global Senior Director, Presbyopia Correcting IOLs, Surgical).
- His credentials: extend to nearly 30 years in the ophthalmic medical device, pharmaceutical, and over-the-counter (OTC) business space.
And since joining Samara?
After his promotion to CCO in 2024, Herod led the commercialization of the company’s flagship device for late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD): the Smaller-Incision New-Generation Implantable Miniature Telescope (SING IMT).
What this is: A second-generation intraocular telescope (IOT) designed to improve the visual acuity (VA) and quality of life (QoL) in patients with severe to profound central vision impairment as a result of late-stage AMD.
- Click here for a look at this product’s procedure, regulatory status (hint: it’s still investigational in the U.S.), and recent U.S. clinical research.
- And outside the U.S: The company shared details on the PERSPECTIVE European clinical trial that will evaluate SING IMT outcomes in patients with pseudophakic eyes.
Any other leadership updates from Samara before we move on?
A few more … the company also announced:
- Faustino Vidal Aroca, PhD, as Global Vice President, Clinical and Medical Affairs
- Syed Rashid as Global Vice President, Market Access and Europe Commercial
- Zubair Hussain, PhD, as Global Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality
- Pedro Gonçalves as Global Vice President of Marketing.
Next up: Staar Surgical.
The California-based medical device company also made some major executive moves last month in naming Warren Foust as president and CEO (plus its newest Board of Directors member).
Similar to Samsara, Staar promoted from within the company. Since joining Staar in 2023, Foust served as both:
- President and chief operating officer since March 2025
- Interim co-CEO, president, and chief operating officer (COO) since February 2026
- See here for our coverage on this leadership shift.
For more on his professional background, click here.
Any other appointments?
Yes! Deborah Andrews, who shared the interim co-CEO title with Foust, has been named executive vice president in addition to her existing role as chief financial officer (CFO0.
Nice! And what’s the latest update from the company?
Earlier this year, the FDA approved an expanded age indication for its EVO / EVO+ Visian Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICLs).
Now to Claris Bio.
Way back at the end of July, the late-stage biopharmaceutical company closed on $118 million in Series B financing to advance CSB-001 (oremepermin alfa ophthalmic solution), the first-ever potential therapy for limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).
- The takeaway from that: The company is now financed to evaluate CSB-001 through phase 3 (see here for our coverage).
I remember …
However, that news buried some major leadership changes:
- Stephen Brady was appointed president and CEO.
- Check out his near-30-year career experience, including (most recently) heading up Tempest Therapeutics.
- Brian Baum was named CCO.
- He most recently served as senior vice president at Dompé; full details on his background here.
- Marc de Garidel was selected as chairman.
- Prior to joining Claris, the biotech entrepreneur and global pharma executive served as CEO of Abivax and CinCorPharma. More info on him (and these roles) here.
Gotcha. Any other pharma appointments we missed?
Yes! Stuart Therapeutics had a busy August, as the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company announced two updates:
- David Jakeman as CFO
- His background: most recently served as vice president at Chimerix, Inc.
- Dave LeCause as Senior Commercial Advisor
- His background: served in several leadership roles at Allergan, Inc., an AbbVie company
And what will their new positions entail?
As the new CFO, Jakeman will be heading up Stuart’s finance and accounting operations while the company continues advancing ST-100 (vezoclmitide) ophthalmic solution—its lead investigational asset for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED)—through phase 3 evaluation completion.
A couple of notes on this:
- As a topical eye drop, ST-100 is based on Stuart’s patented and proprietary PolyCol therapeutic platform to provide rapid improvement in DED signs and symptoms.
- We last reported on that eye drop in June 2025, when the company released initial data from a phase 3a study.
As for LeCause, he’ll be responsible for leading the company’s commercial strategy as that aforementioned phase 3 trial continues its evaluation of ST-100.
And what’s the latest update from that trial?
Per Stuart, the phase 3b portion of the study is expected to kick off in Q1 2027.
This will reportedly be one of two phase 3b studies.
Moving on … to Wills Eye Hospital?
Indeed. The world-renowned, non-profit specialty eye hospital announced two new appointments, effective earlier this summer (July 1).
- Sunir Garg, MD, FACS, FASRS, as Chief of Retina Service
- Previously: served as co-director of Retina Research at Wills Eye
- More on his background here.
- Their planned focus: expanding retina services, research, education, and industry partnerships
- Previously: served as co-director of Retina Research at Wills Eye
- Christina McGowan, MD, as Chief of Cataract and Primary Eye Care Service (CPEC)
- Previously: served as co-director and medical director of CPEC
- More on her background here.
- Their planned focus: resident education, cross-department collaboration, innovation, and renovation of the CPEC space
- Previously: served as co-director and medical director of CPEC
And who have they replaced?
Dr. Garg succeeded Carl Regillio, MD, FACS, FASRS, while Dr. McGowan succeeded Douglas Wisner, MD.
Got it. Any others?
One last honorable mention from early August: Bausch + Lomb replaced and appointed four new directors to its Board of Directors
See here for our previous leadership updates.