Scott T. GarrettChairman, chief executive, president
Beckman Coulter Inc.
Born in Milwaukee, age 60
Lives in Lemon Heights
Presiding over new era at venerable medical technology company.
Runs maker of instruments, test kits, supplies used by hospitals, medical laboratories, researchers. Streamlined operations, including last year’s headquarters move from Fullerton to Brea.
In August, spent $780 million for medical diagnostic business of Japan’s Olympus. Pulled off deal with $750 million debt, stock sale—in wake of 2008 financial meltdown, no less.
Strong 2009: revenue of $3.3 billion, up 12%. Profit of $363.7 million, up 11%. Recurring revenue from instrument leases, chemicals, other supplies make up three-quarters of sales.
Cautious outlook this year. Sees profit down from 2009 on sales of $3.8 billion to $3.9 billion.
Runs last big stand-alone player in medical diagnostics. Periodic takeover talk.
Joined Beckman in 2002 as head of dominant clinical diagnostics unit. Spent 20 some years at Baxter International. In 1990s, served as chief executive of Dade Behring, Beckman rival that evolved out of Baxter, now part of Siemens. One of several local device chiefs to come out of Baxter, including fellow OC 50er Michael Mussallem.
Did deals between stints at Baxter, Beckman. Founded Garrett Capital Advisors, healthcare investor with Banc One Venture Partners.
Relies on Office of the President—group of key executives—to help him run Beckman.
Has low-key Midwestern personality. Called “rigorous, disciplined.”
Company has strong reputation, deep history in county. Employs 12,450 people, 2,000 in OC. More than 200,000 instruments in use worldwide. Started in 1935. Founder Arnold Beckman, local icon, died six years ago at 104.
Garrett on board of AdvaMed, Washington, D.C., medical device trade group. Leading new AdvaMed DX effort for diagnostic companies. On board of Institute for Health Technologies, nonprofit focused on social, economic value of medical devices, diagnostics.
Mechanical engineering bachelor’s, Valparaiso University in Indiana. Business master’s, Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.
Married to Susan, two grown children. Enjoys reading (history, politics, business), playing guitar, golfing, family vacations.
—Vita Reed
Joe E. Kiani
Chairman, chief executive
Masimo Corp.
Born in Shiraz, Iran, age 45
Lives in Laguna Niguel
Classic American tale: immigrant starts company in garage, takes on big players, now counts $1.4 billion market value.
Kiani runs maker of patient monitors. Has become industry statesman on healthcare reform, other issues.
Staged county’s last big IPO in 2007, when Masimo went public in $233 million offering.
Company specializes in pulse oximetry monitors, where sensor is attached to finger, toe to read oxygen levels. New products, including hemoglobin monitoring device, eyed for growth.
Yearly sales of $400 million, most from recurring sales of sensors for devices. Products sold to hospitals, surgery centers, ambulance companies, fire departments.
About 2,500 employees, contractors worldwide; about 400 in OC.
Involved in long-running scrums with larger rival Nellcor, now part of Covidien. Won patent infringement lawsuit in 2004, settled with Nellcor in 2006 for $265 million in damages, plus royalties. Payments declining but continue through early 2011.
Battled for years to get products bought by large hospital purchasing groups. Testified before Congress, efforts chronicled in New York Times. Eventually struck deals with Premier, Novation, two big buying groups.
Licenses technology to other device makers, including GE Medical, Medtronic, Philips, Zoll.
Started Masimo with partner Mohammed Diab in Mission Viejo condo in 1989. Was regional technical manager at Anthem Electronics, engineer with Bell Industries, Unisys before starting Masimo.
Raised some $82 million in venture funding from 1992 to IPO.
Son of engineer and nurse. Came to U.S. with family at age 9. Graduated high school at 15.
Bachelor’s, master’s in electrical engineering from San Diego State at age 22.
On board of Saba Software of Redwood City. Chairman of trade group Medical Device Manufacturers Association.
Holds more than 50 patents related to signal processing, sensors, patient monitoring.
Warm, energetic personality. Stylish, subdued dresser. Rarely wears tie.
Wife, Sarah, two daughters, one son. Plays tennis.
—Vita Reed
James V. Mazzo
Senior vice president, Abbott Laboratories
President, Abbott Medical Optics
Born in Oak Park, Ill., age 52
Lives in Laguna Beach (Irvine Cove)
Back running eye products business as part of larger company.
Led sale of Santa Ana’s Advanced Medical Optics last year to Abbott for $2.8 billion. Abbott sought business to get into $22 billion yearly market for eye surgery devices, contact lens solutions.
Came full circle: Mazzo led business as part of Allergan, presided over 2002 spinoff.
Given leeway to run business as part of Abbott. Continues building: Last year bought Visiogen, venture-backed replacement lens maker, for $400 million. Deal brought Synchrony, replacement cataract lens awaiting FDA approval.
Enthused about being part of Abbott. Says it has brought resources he didn’t have before.
In Advanced Medical days, grew company on own as well as through big deals, including 2007’s $808 million buy of Irvine’s IntraLase, maker of lasers for vision correction surgery.
Spent 22 years at Allergan. Dozen years outside U.S. as president of Europe, Africa, Middle East region, other jobs in Italy, Northern Europe, Canada.
Active on many boards, several related to UC Irvine including chair of UCI Foundation. On boards at Chapman University, University of San Diego. Just became executive board chair of trade group AdvaMed. Member of International Intraocular Implant Club. Also on board of tech booster group Octane.
Bachelor’s in zoology, secondary emphasis in chemistry from Cal State Long Beach.
Athletic in youth. Played second base, quarterback.
Mazzo, wife, Kelly, big in local charitable, academic scenes. Serves on boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach, Angelitos de Oro, a support group for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County. Couple lives in “comfortable and warm” dream home in Irvine Cove. Holds season tickets to Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Anaheim Ducks.
—Vita Reed
Michael A. Mussallem
Chairman, chief executive
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.
Born in Gary, Ind., age 57
Lives in Laguna Beach
Leader of medical device maker that’s become Wall Street star as hopes increase for new type of heart valve that doesn’t require major surgery.
Yearly sales of more than $1 billion, recent market value of nearly $6 billion. Largely insulated from downturn as products are medical necessities.
Employs 2,300 people in Irvine, 6,400 in total.
Edwards shares shot up in past year—hit $100 in early March. Company doing 2-for-1 split in May.
Caretaker of Edwards’ historical legacy in OC, early heart valves. Company named for valve pioneer Miles “Lowell” Edwards.
Completed enrollment in major U.S. clinical trial for Edwards Sapien valve, which is inserted via catheter rather than open heart surgery. Eyes 2011 U.S. launch.
Sapien valve, catheter already sold in Europe. Logged $112 million in sales in 2009. Just received European clearance for new version, Sapien XT.
Occasional subject of buyout talk. Has about $320 million in cash, equivalents on hand.
Develops, makes, sells heart valve replacement, repair devices, heart-monitoring catheters, vascular treatments, minimally invasive cardiac monitoring system, minimally invasive cardiac surgery systems. Manufacturing in Irvine, Utah, Europe, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Singapore.
Involved in all aspects of company, yet described as hands-off. Stresses “creative debate.” Conference rooms have symbolic tornado picture to encourage creative discussion.
Big on developing talent. For each critical position, two or more employees pegged as possible replacements.
Company started more than 50 years ago, acquired by Baxter in 1985, spun off in 2000.
Only boss Edwards has known in its decade as stand-alone public company. Joined Baxter in 1979 after working at Union Carbide. Named president of Baxter’s critical care division in 1993, VP of surgical group in 1994; assumed management of cardiovascular business in 1995, biopharmaceuticals in 1998.
Trustee, UC Irvine Foundation. On board, former chairman of AdvaMed, medical technology trade group. Succeeded by fellow OC 50er Jim Mazzo.
Bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana. Honorary doctorate from Rose-Hulman.
Married to wife, Linda, for 34 years. No children. Laguna Beach neighbor of John Hall, head of Santa Ana guitar maker Rickenbacker.
Enjoys jogging, skiing. Die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. Of Lebanese heritage.
—Vita Reed
David E.I. Pyott
Chairman, chief executive
Allergan Inc.
Born in London, age 56
Lives in San Juan Capistrano
Worldly exec heads county’s most valuable company on Wall Street.
Allergan makes wrinkle remover Botox, breast implants, other medical cosmetics including Latisse for growing eyelashes. Also makes eye, skin drugs.
Cautious for 2010 as drug maker faces competition, uncertain spending on medical cosmetic products. Says “sensible to remain conservative” in outlook because of slow economic recovery, expected generic competition for key eye drug, first full year of sales for flagship Botox’s only rival, Medicis Pharmaceutical’s Dysport.
Expanding Botox: just got OK to treat upper-limb spasms, awaiting word for using Botox as migraine treatment. Sales of Botox for cosmetic, medical purposes hit $1.3 billion mark last year.
Had good 2009. Revenue of $4.5 billion. Profit grew 10% to $621.3 million.
Recent market value of $19 billion.
In 12th year as Allergan chief. Sophisticated, well-traveled, dry sense of humor, refined Scottish accent. Occasional guest on CNBC, favorite of stock guru Jim Cramer.
Joined Sandoz, later Novartis, in 1980. Spent more than 17 years in various positions, including head of Sandoz Nutrition unit, 1995 to 1997.
Director, Edwards Lifesciences, Avery Dennison. Trustee, Chapman University. Member, UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business dean’s advisory board. Member, UCI Chief Executive Roundtable.
On boards of California Healthcare Institute, Pan-American Ophthalmological Foun-dation, International Council of Ophthal-mology Foundation, American Academy of Ophthalmology Foundation, Biotechnology Industry Organization, National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research.
Ranked No. 50 in 2009 Harvard Business Review study of the best-performing CEOs in the world. In 2006, received Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth.
Well schooled. Diplomas in international, European law from Europe Institute at University of Amsterdam. Master’s from University of Edinburgh, business master’s from London Business School.
Raised in India, later Scotland. Fluent in English, German, French, Spanish.
Says frugality is in his Scottish blood. Uses much of the same office furniture that formative CEO Gavin Herbert Jr. used during his time. Some flash: drives Aston Martin.
Married to Julianna. Four children. Has house in Bavarian Alps, goes for retreats from voice mail, e-mail. Says some of his best ideas come walking through woods there.
—Vita Reed
