Warren Foust (l) and Deborah Andrews.
LAKE FOREST, Calif.—STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ: STAA), a global leader in phakic IOLs with the EVO family of Implantable Collamer Lenses (EVO ICL) for vision correction, has announced that its board of directors has appointed Warren Foust as president, chief executive officer and a new member of the Board, effective August 4, 2026. Foust joined STAAR in April 2023 and has served as president and chief operating officer since March 2025, and as interim co-CEO, president and chief operating officer since February 2026. Deborah Andrews, who has served since February as interim co-CEO alongside Foust, will now serve as executive vice president, effective August 4, 2026, and will also continue to serve as chief financial officer.
“After a rigorous global search, it is clear that Warren is the right leader to take STAAR forward. He brings exceptional judgment, operational discipline, and a clear focus on change and innovation,” said Neal C. Bradsher, board chair. “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, and the board looks forward to what STAAR will achieve under his leadership. We also want to recognize Deborah Andrews—her leadership as interim co-CEO was exemplary, and we’re delighted she continues in an expanded role as EVP and CFO.”
Foust has overseen research and development, global sales, marketing, manufacturing, and operations, leading STAAR through a successful operational reset and return to profitable growth. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson, including worldwide president of surgical vision and worldwide president of mentor, along with earlier roles at DePuy Synthes, Aventis Pharmaceuticals and Roche Pharmaceuticals.
“I’m honored by the board’s confidence and excited to get to work,” said Foust. “STAAR is defining the future of refractive surgery—leading the industry shift from corneal tissue ablation to preservation, with more than four million lenses sold, 85 countries served, 30 years of proven safety and efficacy, and consistent EVO share gains globally. With half the world projected to be myopic by 2050, our market opportunity continues to compound.”
Foust added, “We have just completed the strongest first half in our company’s history, marked by robust year-over-year growth, increasing profitability, and accelerating market share momentum. Our sequential growth in China—without inventory accumulation—reflects continued share gains, the success of our EVO+ launch, and favorable ASP tailwinds from an improving product mix. Over time, our innovation agenda will transform STAAR into a multi-product company and expand our global scale. We have the right technology, the right team, and a compelling long-term opportunity. This is only the beginning.”
Andrews rejoined STAAR in March 2025 as interim chief financial officer and was appointed CFO in June 2025. She was named interim co-CEO in February 2026. In her role as CFO, Andrews oversees STAAR’s finance, accounting, and internal audit functions, as well as information technology and investor relations.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve alongside Warren as co-CEO during this important period of transition,” said Andrews. “I have seen firsthand his leadership qualities, his commitment to our people, and his clarity of vision for STAAR’s future. I look forward to continuing to serve as CFO and to serving in my new role as EVP, as well as to continuing to work closely with Warren as he leads our company into its next chapter.”
In January of this year, Alcon (SIX/NYSE: ALC), a global leader in eyecare, announced the termination of its definitive merger agreement with STAAR Surgical. The move followed a STAAR shareholder vote that failed to produce sufficient support for the proposed merger, which was valued at approximately $1.6 billion.
