MIKE MUSSALLEM
FORMER CHAIRMAN/CEO
EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP.
WHY: First and longtime CEO of Orange County’s largest medtech employer, with about 4K workers and 15K worldwide. The Irvine-based heart valve maker is OC’s most valuable public company in the healthcare sector, sporting a $45B market cap as of October.
IN THE NEWS: This year, co-founded alongside his wife Linda a new nonprofit called the Mussallem CHD Alliance to focus on congenital heart defects. Recently revealed he has Lou Gherig’s disease.
NOTABLE: Named Businessperson of the Year by the Business Journal in the health sector in 2023.
QUOTABLE: “I’m proud of Edwards’ continued dedication in providing innovative technologies and solutions for patients fighting cardiovascular disease and also restoring the critically ill to health.”
