A new month—and season—translates to changes … and we certainly have some updates in the eyecare leadership space to report.
The biggest shake up: Bausch + Lomb Corporation has named a new interim CEO.
Meanwhile, a few other companies have made their own executive moves over the last 30+ days: ZEISS, Nanoscope Therapeutics, BioTissue, Balance Ophthalmics, STAAR Surgical Corporation, and Deya.
Let’s start with this CEO update.
Effective immediately, Bausch + Lomb has a new (interim) leader: Thomas J. Appio.
Where you may know him from: Appio has served as CEO of Bausch Health since 2022 and, more recently, was named chairman of the B+L Board of Directors in August 2026.
- Prior to these roles: He’s actually been with the company since 2010, serving first as managing director, China, and in 2016, as president, B+L International.
Will he be staying in those two positions still?
Apparently so—at least, according to B+L.
Now to the big question: What’s happening to the former CEO?
Brent Saunders, who has served as B+L’s CEO and chair of the Board of Directors since 2023, is leaving the company as part of a reported mutual agreement with the Board.
And if you’ll recall: The past 3.5 years at the helm was actually his second stint, as Saunders first served as the company’s CEO from 2010 to 2013.
Do we know anything more about this mutual agreement?
Nope, we don’t. The only comments from Saunders were included in B+L’s announcement, in which he referred to the “tremendous potential” he saw in the company that led to his return as CEO.
- “Today, it is stronger, more focused and better positioned for the future, with a clearer strategy, a more robust pipeline and significant opportunities ahead. The progress we've made reflects the talent, passion and commitment of colleagues across the organization, and I'm proud of everything we've accomplished together,” he was quoted as saying.
And what’s B+L’s plan moving forward?
Under Appio’s leadership, B+L is looking towards “its next phase of growth” based on preliminary Q3 results, as the company forecasts an expected raise of its full-year 2026 guidance.
- In other words: B+L’s 2026 financial performance thus far is better than it initially expected.
Editor’s note: Check out our recent coverage on the company’s latest pipeline updates, data readouts, and product news.
Got it. Is that the only CEO update?
One more: ZEISS Vision Care appointed Jesper Wiegandt as CEO earlier this month, replacing Sven Hermann, who’ll stay on as CEO of ZEISS Consumer Markets.
As for his background: Wiegandt joined ZEISS in 2022 as chief marketing officer before his appointment to chief commercial officer (CCO) of Zeiss Vision Care this past January.
- To note: He’ll reportedly continue to serve in this role in addition to his new position.
Check out more on his experience in the international consumer goods space.
Sticking with ZEISS for a minute …
ZEISS announced Axel Christian in the newly created role of President of ZEISS North America, which will cover the company’s activities across both the U.S. and Canada.
A few things to know:
- Click here for details on the centennial celebration of its U.S. operations.
- Get a look at Christian’s 20 years of strategic management experience (which includes serving as head of Corporate Finance and Controlling at ZEISS’s Germany headquarters).
As for what this new president’s focus will involve: It’ll span collaboration and innovations across the company’s five “distinct segments and strategic business units”:
- Semiconductor manufacturing technology; industrial quality and research; medical technology; consumer markets; and photonics & optics
Who’s next?
Nanosocope Therapeutics. Just last week, the company appointed Troy Short as senior vice president (VP), Manufacturing and Supply Chain.
His background: Extends to over two decades of experience as an operations and supply chain executive in good manufacturing product (GMP) manufacturing, global clinical and commercial supply, and gene therapy launch execution.
- Check out a few of his prior roles at AveXis Inc, Jaguar Gene Therapy, and Advanced Medicine Partners.
What will his focus be?
Nanoscope’s lead asset: MOGENRY (sonpiretigene isteparvovec; MCO-010).
Some background: Indicated for retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the optogenetic gene therapy’s Biologics License Application (BLA) was accepted by the FDA last month.
- Its Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date is set for H1 2027.
Specifically, Short will head up the company’s GMP manufacturing, commercial supply, and global distribution strategy, as it prepares for a potential FDA approval and U.S. commercial launch.
Moving on … to BioTissue?
Indeed. The biotechnology company, which develops human amniotic membrane tissue-derived products, named a new chief financial officer (CFO): Rocco Venezia, CPA.
His background: includes Intercept Pharmaceuticals, where he spent the last 10 years serving in various leadership positions—including (most recently) CFO.
- See here for more on his experience.
And what’s the latest from this company?
That would be a phase 2 data readout on its investigational dry eye disease (DED) candidate: TTAX03, a biologic derived from human amniotic membrane and umbilical cord.
As presented during the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2026 annual meeting, those clinical results demonstrated a favorable safety profile for the eye drop. Check out our coverage.
Next up: Balance Ophthalmics.
We nearly missed this update: The company shared last month that Justin Kelly, RN, BS, MBA was appointed as chief business officer (CBO).
- See here for details on his 25-year career in healthcare (and what he’ll be focusing on in his new role).
This update was announced as Balance continues preparations for its broader U.S. commercialization of the FDA-cleared FSYX Ocular Pressure Adjusting Pump (OPAP).
- Click here for a refresh on this intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering device for glaucoma patients.
- And don’t forget: The pump secured Medicare coverage, effective earlier this month.
Switching over to some CCO news …
Greg DiPasquale was named as Outlook Therapeutics’ new CCO.
His background: Most recently, he joined the company in December 2025 (as head of Commercial for LYTENAVA (bevacizumab-vikg, bevacizumab gamma).
Prior to that: His extensive experience includes 30+ years leading the commercial launch of retinal products such as:
- Novartis’ BEOVU (brolucizumab)
- Regeneron’s EYLEA (aflibercept) prefilled syringe (PFS)
- Regeneron’s EYLEA HD (aflibercept)
- Harrow’s TRIESENCE (triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension) relaunch
Is it safe to assume his focus will be on LYTENAVA?
It is. DiPasquale will head up all commercial functions for the first and only FDA-approved (as of this
past July) ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab for the treatment of wet age-related macular
degeneration (AMD).
The timeframe for its U.S. launch: Q4 2026 (so sometime before the end of this year).
Next up: STAAR Surgical.
Fresh off its appointment of a new president and CEO, the medical device company named Andrew Pilon, OD, as VP of Business Development.
His background: Most recently, Dr. Pilon served as senior director of Business Development (among other roles) at Johnson & Johnson’s Surgical Vision division. See here for more on his tenure.
And his planned focus in this new role?
Dr. Pilon expressed optimism in helping the company build on its leading position in the lens-based refractive surgery space.
- Among his target areas: strategic partnerships and alliances, new technologies, and potential new uses for the company’s proprietary collamer material technology.
And speaking of that collamer technology: Earlier this year, the FDA approved an expanded age indication for STAAR’s EVO / EVO+ Visian Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICLs).
Now to our last update: Deya.
Healthcare tech company Deya announced a new addition to its executive team: Scott Isaac as Chief Systems Architect.
- Click here for a rundown on the eyecare provider (ECP)-led company, which emerged from stealth mode earlier this year.
So what should we know about Isaac?
The former Epic Systems software developer has spent the last 20 years developing software to support ECPs.
During this time: He embedded directly in eyecare clinics to observe end-user workflows as well as lead device integration work to connect ophthalmology modules to ophthalmic hardware.
- Check out more on his background.
And his role at Deya?
That actually began in July. Since then, he’s reportedly rebuilt the company’s “internal knowledge and task management system.” This includes:
- Developing custom integration connecting the system directly to internal artificial intelligence (AI) tools
- Strengthening Deya's full codebase with AI-assisted development practice
See here for more.
Nice! Now, speaking of systems ... can I get a refresher on the specifics of Deya’s?
You bet. Check out its recently-launched Deya Imaging AI-based eyecare platform for remote eye monitoring.
And in recent news: Earlier this summer, the company kicked off a collaboration with the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) on a new sponsorship agreement to support an AI-based research project.
For more leadership news, see here.