Staar Surgical (Nasdaq:STAA) announced today that it appointed Warren Foust and Deborah Andrews as interim co-CEOs.
The temporary appointments of both executives, who currently hold other leadership roles at Staar, went into effect yesterday, Feb. 1. They follow a topsy-turvy period for the company, which is undergoing a leadership change after a failed merger with Alcon.
After facing blowback from leading shareholders, the $1.5 billion deal that would have brought Staar’s Evo Implantable Collamer lenses (ICLs) to Alcon’s wide-ranging ophthalmic portfolio, fell through last month. In the aftermath, CEO Stephen Farrell and Chair Elizabeth Yeu stepped down.
As Staar conducts a search for a permanent, Foust, the company’s president and COO, and Andrews, its CFO, lead it in the interim. Both executives intend to work with other members of the executive leadership team and the board to lead day-to-day operations.
Foust joined Staar in April 2023 as COO and received a promotion to president in March 2025. His past roles include worldwide president of Surgical Vision at Johnson & Johnson.
Andrews rejoined Staar in March 2025 as interim CFO and moved into the role permanently three months later. She previously held various accounting and finance leadership roles at Staar from 1995 until her retirement in 2020.
While Foust and Andrews lead, a search committee continues a global search for Staar’s new CEO.
“Warren and Deborah are respected and qualified leaders with deep knowledge of Staar and our industry. The entire board is confident in their ability to ensure business continuity and lead our Company during this period of transition,” said Neal C. Bradsher, board chair. “The board is committed to working diligently to identify and appoint a new CEO.”
