STAAR Surgical Names Interim Co-CEOs Amid Leadership Transition
Event summary
- STAAR Surgical appoints Warren Foust and Deborah Andrews as interim co-CEOs effective February 1, 2026.
- Foust, President and COO, and Andrews, CFO, will lead the company during the transition period.
- Board establishes a Search Committee to identify a new permanent CEO, including both internal and external candidates.
- Foust joined STAAR in 2023, previously held roles at Johnson & Johnson and Roche.
- Andrews rejoined STAAR in 2025, previously served as CFO from 2017 to 2020.
The big picture
STAAR Surgical's appointment of interim co-CEOs underscores a strategic leadership transition amid a competitive landscape in the ophthalmology sector. The move highlights the importance of maintaining operational continuity while the Board conducts a global search for a permanent CEO. The company's focus on phakic IOLs and its EVO ICL product line positions it as a leader in vision correction, but the transition period could influence market dynamics and investor sentiment.
What we're watching
- Leadership Stability
- How the co-CEO structure will impact operational continuity and strategic decision-making during the transition.
- CEO Search Process
- The pace at which the Board identifies and appoints a permanent CEO, and whether internal or external candidates prevail.
- Market Confidence
- Whether investors maintain confidence in STAAR's leadership transition and its ability to sustain growth in the competitive ophthalmology market.
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