Key Takeaways
- Staar Surgical has appointed Warren Foust as president, CEO, and a member of the board of directors after he served as interim co-CEO and president and COO
- Deborah Andrews will become executive vice president while continuing as chief financial officer
Staar Surgical has appointed Warren Foust as president and chief executive officer and a member of its board of directors, effective August 4, 2026. Mr. Foust succeeds from his role as interim co-CEO, president and chief operating officer, positions he had held since February 2026 and March 2025, respectively. He joined Staar in April 2023.
As part of the leadership transition, Deborah Andrews will become executive vice president while continuing to serve as the company's chief financial officer. Ms. Andrews had shared interim co-CEO responsibilities with Mr. Foust since February 2026.
"After a rigorous global search, it is clear that Warren is the right leader to take Staar forward," said Neal C. Bradsher, chair of Staar's board of directors. "He brings exceptional judgment, operational discipline, and a clear focus on change and innovation. His genuine connection to our mission and people, along with his vision for the surgeons and patients we serve, position him to deliver sustainable, long-term value for shareholders."
In accepting the appointment, Mr. Foust highlighted Staar's position in the refractive surgery market and the company's long-term growth strategy.
"Staar is defining the future of refractive surgery—leading the industry shift from corneal tissue ablation to preservation," Mr. Foust said, citing the company's installed base of more than 4 million EVO implantable collamer lenses, operations in 85 countries, and three decades of clinical experience.
He also pointed to favorable market dynamics, noting that the prevalence of myopia is expected to increase substantially over the coming decades, creating additional demand for refractive correction technologies.
Mr. Foust said Staar recently completed "the strongest first half in our company's history," with year-over-year revenue growth, improving profitability, and continued market share gains. He highlighted sequential growth in China, attributing performance to increased adoption of the EVO+ lens, an improving product mix, and higher average selling prices rather than inventory build.
The appointment comes about 7 months after the proposed merger agreement between Alcon and Staar Surgical was terminated. At the time, Staar announced that it did not receive the required stockholder approval to complete the proposed merger.
