Joseph E. Kiani
Chairman, chief executive
Masimo Corp.
Born in Shiraz, Iran
Age 46
Lives in Laguna Niguel
Entrepreneur turned medical device industry statesman.
Runs maker of patient monitors. Medical device advocate on healthcare reform, other issues.
Staged county’s last big public offering in 2007, when Masimo raised $233 million.
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 $405 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 battle 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. Struck deal to renew royalties with Covidien in February.
Tried for years to get products into large hospital purchasing groups. Testified before Congress, efforts chronicled in New York Times. Eventually struck deals with big buying groups Premier, Novation.
Licenses technology to other device makers, including GE Medical, Medtronic, Philips, Zoll.
Kiani 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 public offering.
Dad was engineer, mom a 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. Board member, former chair of trade group Medical Device Manufacturers’ Association. Trustee, Chapman University. On dean’s advisory board, San Diego State College of Engineering.
Holds more than 50 patents related to signal processing, sensors, patient monitoring.
Warm, energetic personality. Stylish, subdued dresser. Rarely wears tie.
Last year hosted Barbara Boxer fundraiser at Laguna Niguel home with Vice President Joe Biden that raised $200,000. Also supports Congressman John Campbell, other Republicans, Democrats.
Wife, Sarah, two daughters, one son. Plays tennis.
—Vita Reed
James V. Mazzo
President, Abbott Medical Optics
Born in Oak Park, Ill.
Age 53
Lives in Laguna Beach (Irvine Cove)
Medical device industry point man on healthcare reform, other issues as executive board chair of Washington, D.C.-based trade group AdvaMed.
Day job running Abbott Medical Optics, maker of eye surgery devices, contact lens solutions. Part of Chicago area’s Abbott Laboratories after $2.8 billion buyout two years ago.
Came full circle: Mazzo led business during days as Allergan subsidiary, presided over 2002 spinoff.
Given leeway to run business as part of Abbott Laboratories. Maintains role as prominent local executive.
Plans include introducing 20 products through 2014, becoming an “R&D machine.” Also considering getting into eye drugs, shrinking Abbott Laboratories’ drug-eluting stents, other products to treat eyes.
Grown company on own and through deals. In 2009, paid $400 million for Visiogen, venture-backed replacement lens maker. Deal brought Synchrony, replacement cataract lens in limited use outside U.S. and under FDA review.
Earlier acquisitions include 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.
Member of International Intraocular Implant Club. Also on board of tech booster group Octane in Aliso Viejo.
Bachelor’s in zoology, secondary emphasis in chemistry from Cal State Long Beach.
Athletic in youth. Played second baseman, quarterback.
Mazzo, wife Kelly big in local charitable, academic circles. Serves on boards of Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach, Angelitos de Oro, a support group for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, PBS SoCal Foundation. Couple lives in “comfortable and warm” Irvine Cove home.
—Vita Reed
Michael A. Mussallem
Chairman, chief executive
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.
Born in Gary, Ind.
Age 58
Lives in Laguna Beach
Basking in industry, Wall Street limelight for early lead in new type of heart valve that doesn’t require major surgery.
Business Journal’s businessperson of the year for 2010.
Awaiting FDA approval on Sapien valve, which is inserted via a catheter rather than open heart surgery. Looking at October U.S. sales, set aside up to $40 million to launch valve here.
Sapien already sold in Europe, saw $206 million in 2010 sales.
Expecting $340 million in sales this year.
Valve has made Edwards a Wall Street standout. Yearly sales of about $1.5 billion, recent market value of $9.6 billion. Fared well during downturn as products are medical necessities.
Employs 2,400 in Irvine, 7,000 in total.
Caretaker of Edwards’ historical legacy in OC, early heart valves. Company named for valve pioneer Miles “Lowell” Edwards.
Occasional subject of buyout talk. Says “we don’t feel the need to be owned by a larger company to be successful.”
Had some $344 million in cash, equivalents on hand at end of March.
Company’s stock joined S&P 500 index in March.
Edwards develops, makes, sells heart valve replacement, repair devices, monitoring catheters, vascular treatments, minimally invasive cardiac monitoring system, minimally invasive cardiac surgery systems. Manufacturing in Irvine, Utah, Europe, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Singapore.
Mussallem involved in all aspects of company, yet described as hands-off. Stresses “creative debate.” Conference rooms have symbolic tornado picture to encourage creative discussion.
Business started more than 50 years ago, acquired by Baxter in 1985, spun off in 2000.
Only boss Edwards has known in its 11 years 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 boards, executive committees of AdvaMed, California Healthcare Institute, Octane.
Bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana. Honorary doctorate from Rose-Hulman.
Married to wife, Linda, for 35 years. No children. Couple supports Down syndrome-related philanthropy through Orange County Community Foundation. 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, president
Allergan Inc.
Born in London
Age 57
Lives in San Juan Capistrano
Globetrotting executive. Recently traversed Europe, Asia, New York in 15 days, logging more than 30,000 miles.
Heads county’s largest drug maker. Along with Broadcom, most high-profile company based here.
Allergan makes wrinkle remover Botox, breast implants, other medical cosmetics. Also makes eye, skin drugs.
Has tradition of offering Wall Street conservative outlooks, then beating them. For 2011, says Allergan cautious on healthcare reform costs, price cuts in Europe, expected increase in research and development spending to reload pipeline.
Expanded flagship Botox: Recently got FDA approval for use as migraine treatment. Sales of Botox for cosmetic, medical purposes hit $1.4 billion mark last year.
2010 revenue grew 9% to $4.9 billion. Slim net income of $600,000 after paying $600 million to settle probe of Botox marketing practices.
Recent market value of $22 billion.
In 13th year as Allergan boss. Resumed president’s role after March departure of F. Michael Ball, who left to become CEO of Chicago drug, device maker Hospira.
Sophisticated, well-traveled, worldly with 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, UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business. Vice chairman, Chapman Univer-sity Board of Trustees. On board and executive committee of Biotechnology Industry Or-ganization, California Healthcare Institute.
On boards of Pan-American Ophthalmological Foundation, International Council of Ophthalmology Foundation, Foundation of American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Last year awarded UCI Medal. Wore red tartan kilt tuxedo to October event. Also given Moacyr Alvaro Gold Medal for services to Brazilian ophthalmology last year.
Holds 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 Allergan 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, email. Says some of his best ideas come walking through woods there.
—Vita Reed
OTHER MEMBERS
Richard F. Afable
Chief executive, president of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, county’s largest hospital by revenue
Pete Klaes
Vice president, general manager of Irvine operations of medical device maker B. Braun Medical
William J. Link
Managing director, Newport Beach office of healthcare venture investor Versant Venture Management LLC
William A. Mathies
Chairman, chief executive Irvine-based Sun Healthcare Group Inc., largest nursing home operator based in county
Richard K. Matros
Chairman, chief executive of Irvine-based Sabra Health Care REIT Inc., led spinoff from nursing home operator Sun Healthcare
Deborah A. Proctor
Chief Executive, president Orange-based St. Joseph Health System, operator of St. Joseph Hospital-Orange, St. Jude Medical Center, Mission Hospital
