SCOTT THOMAS GARRETT
Chairman, chief executive
Beckman Coulter Inc.
Born in Milwaukee, Jan. 19, 1950
Lives in Lemon Heights
Heads county’s largest medical technology company by sales. Putting mark on 74-year-old company.
Laying groundwork to move from longtime Fullerton base to neighboring Brea next year. Prior restructuring includes change in how revenue is accounted for, distribution overhaul, reduction of suppliers, contracting out some manufacturing.
Company makes machines, supplies used by hospitals, medical laboratories, researchers. Solid 2007: revenue up 9% to $2.8 billion, profit up 13% to $211 million.
Runs last big stand-alone player in medical diagnostics. Occasional subject of takeover speculation.
Couple of deals last year. Bought remaining part of NexGen Diagnostics LLC for $36 million. Bought flow cytometry instrumentation business of Dako Denmark AS for undisclosed price.
Big one got away: made $1.7 billion offer for Biosite, San Diego maker of profitable tests for heart diseases, drugs, intestinal parasites. After brief chase, dropped out after Massachusetts’ Inverness made rival bids.
Joined Beckman in 2002 as head of clinical diagnostics. Spent about 20 years at Baxter International. Served as chief executive of Dade Behring, Beckman rival that evolved out of Baxter in 1990s.
One of several local device bosses 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.
Beckman has strong reputation, deep history in county. Employs 10,560 people, 2,075 in OC. More than 200,000 instruments in use worldwide. Started in 1935. Founder Arnold Beckman, local icon, died four years ago at 104.
Garrett has businesslike manner. Low key, pleasant personality.
Bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Valparaiso University in Indiana, business master’s from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.
Married to Susan, two grown children. Enjoys reading (history, politics, business), playing guitar, golfing, family vacations.
,Vita Reed
LAWRENCE MEAD HIGBY
Chief executive
Apria Healthcare Group Inc.
Born in Pomona, June 15, 1945
Lives in Newport Beach (Lido Isle)
Veteran executive runs Lake Forest-based home health company. In expansion mode with big deal under his belt.
Spent $350 million late last year for Coram, Denver provider of intravenous tube feeding, antibiotic treatments, other services, including chemotherapy.
Expects Coram deal, diversified offerings for managed care customers to partially offset federal government’s plan to cut payments to home health providers for medical equipment, oxygen by average 26% through competitive bidding.
Is active in effort to minimize possibility of Medicare cuts. As in past years, traveled to Washington, D.C., to educate legislators, policymakers on how changes could affect patients.
Company provides respirators, drug infusion treatments, wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, other products to people at home. Recent market value of $815 million.
Has grown company on its own and by buying mom-and-pop pro-viders. Yearly sales of more than $2 billion. A third of revenue from Medicare, Medicaid; private insurers make up bulk of revenue.
Company created 13 years ago from combination of Abbey Healthcare Group, Homedco Group.
Previously Apria’s president, COO. In 2002, succeeded turnaround specialist, past OC 50er Philip Carter, who worked to turn around Apria with Higby.
Pre-Apria career includes running 76 Products, oil refining, marketing arm of Unocal. Negotiated 76 Products’ 1996 sale to Tosco for $2.1 billion.
Political career included serving as principal aide to H.R. Haldeman, President Nixon’s chief of staff. Mentioned in Bob Woodward’s “The Secret Man.” Deep Throat Mark Felt recalled Higby as “most notorious” of administration’s “eager beavers” who pressed FBI for answers to routine questions. Was so efficient, administrative assistants became known as “Higbys.”
Member, former chairman of New Majority. Big backer of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Bachelor’s in political science from UCLA, attended business school there.
On boards of Automobile Club of Southern California, William Lyon Homes, Performing Artscenter, UCLA Board of Visitors. Board president, South Coast Repertory.
Wife Dee, former chair of South Coast Repertory. Three sons, daughter, ages 29 to 37. Likes skiing, jogging, golf, theater, sailing.
,Vita Reed
RICHARD KEITH MATROS
Chief executive
Sun Healthcare Group Inc.
Born on Long Island, N.Y., age 54
Lives in Newport Coast
Chief executive
Sun Healthcare Group Inc.
Born on Long Island, N.Y., age 54
Lives in Newport Coast
Heads big operator of nursing homes, other businesses. Debuting on OC 50.
Sun Healthcare has yearly sales of $1.6 billion, recent market value of $560 million. Company runs 215 nursing homes, other facilities in 25 states treating people recovering from illness, injury or with Alzheimer’s. Other businesses include short-term rehabilitation centers, medical staffing arms, hospices.
Joined Sun in 2001 when company was readying to emerge from bankruptcy reorganization. Grown Sun on its own, through deals, including last year’s $350 million buy of Harborside Healthcare of Boston.
Had strong 2007: revenue up 58% to $1.6 billion. Profits surged 112% to $57 million.
Done well in fickle market for nursing home companies. Co-mpany gets high marks from industry watchers, who say aging Baby Boomers bode well for long-term care.
Runs geographically dispersed company with offices in Boston, Albuquerque, Dallas, Denver. Corporate culture big on meetings, travel, BlackBerrys.
Put together executive team by hiring smart, passionate people: “Knowing that everybody’s always going to have different personal styles, I just look for some basic characteristics,” he says.
Pre-Sun career includes being chief executive of Santa Ana’s Bright Now Dental for two years, chief of Regency Health Services, long-term care company Sun eventually bought.
Master’s in gerontology from University of Southern California.
Director, Vericare, Bright Now.
Married, three children. Goes by Rick. Stylish dresser. Likes hip-hop, other music. Hobbies include attending Los Angeles Lakers games, kickboxing.
,Vita Reed
JAMES VITO MAZZO
Chairman, chief executive
Advanced Medical Optics Inc.
Born in Oak Park, Ill., May 11, 1957
Lives in Laguna Beach
Eye guy.
Runs maker of contact lens solutions, devices used in various eye surgeries, such as cataract removal, laser vision correction. Just entered dry eye market with new drops.
Advanced Medical has yearly sales of $1.1 billion. Recent market value of $1.3 billion.
Company created in 2002 spinoff from Allergan, led by OC 50er David Pyott.
Mazzo led business as part of Allergan. Pyott describes as “passionate Allergan employee” who first balked at spinoff. Won over on prospect of leading, building company.
Emphasizing new products: Tecnis im-plantable cataract re-placement lens, up-grade to laser vision correction gear.
Has faced challenges. Two contact lens solution recalls in recent years. Working to regain market share in solution market with new formulation of Complete brand. Some analysts fret about potential effect of slowing economy on laser procedures.
Grown Advanced Medical through several big deals. Latest was $808 million buy last year of Irvine’s IntraLase, maker of lasers for vision correction surgery.
Third major acquisition in as many years. Earlier deals: 2005’s $1.3 billion buy of Santa Clara laser device maker Visx, $450 million buy of Pfizer Inc.’s eye surgery unit in 2004.
Spent 22 years with Allergan. Served as corporate VP, president of ophthalmic surgical, contact lens care businesses. Spent 12 years outside U.S. as president of Allergan’s Europe, Africa, Middle East region, along with other jobs in Italy, Northern Europe, Canada.
Active on many boards, several related to UC Irvine, Chapman University, University of San Diego. Only executive from eye sector to serve on board of trade group AdvaMed. Also on boards of Beckman Coulter, tech booster group Octane.
Becomes UCI Foundation chair on July 1.
Bachelor’s in zoology, secondary emphasis in chemistry from Cal State Long Beach.
Athletic in youth. Played second base, was football quarterback. Coaches team in UCI Basketball Extravaganza, fundraiser for scholarships. Wife Keleen. Two children.
,Vita
MICHAEL ALBERT MUSSALLEM
Chairman, chief executive
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.
Born in Gary, Ind., Nov. 21, 1952
Lives in Laguna Beach
Runs market leader in heart valves, related products.
Edwards has yearly sales of $1 billion, recent market value of $2.6 billion. Heads business with historical legacy in OC, early heart valves.
Company, named for valve pioneer Lowell Edwards, marking 50th anniversary of business this year.
Big push: new type of heart valve that doesn’t require major surgery. Hopes to stake out spot as leader in emerging market.
Less-invasive valve trial under way since 2007. Three patients implanted with second generation of valve in March. Valve, delivery systems sold in Europe. Company expects more than $20 million in sales from it in 2008.
Entered field through 2004 buy of Percutaneous Valve Technologies, New Jersey up and comer.
About $200 million in cash on hand. Could make buys close to core business.
Analysts from time to time express mild concerns about sustainability of growth. Occasional subject of takeover rumors.
Besides heart valve replacement, repair devices, sells heart-monitoring catheters, vascular treatments, FloTrac, minimally invasive cardiac surgery sensor. Manufacturing in Irvine, Utah, Europe, Latin America, Singapore.
Plays big role at company, no No. 2. Still, described as hands-off. Stresses “creative debate” among team. On conference room wall, has picture of tornado to encourage discussion.
Reorganizing business. Three longtime lieutenants leaving company.
Big on managing talent. For each of company’s 75 critical positions, two or more employees pegged as possible replacements.
Few years ago, made some moves to diversify into stents for treating enlarged hearts, other areas. Effort later cut in favor of core valve efforts.
Company established in 2000 spinoff from Baxter International.
Only boss Edwards has known in eight years as stand-alone public company. Mussallem joined Baxter in 1979 after working at Union Carbide.
Was named president of Baxter’s critical care division, VP of surgical group in 1994. Assumed oversight of cardiovascular business from 1995 to spinoff.
On board of Advanced Medical Optics. Member, UCI Chief Executive Roundtable. Also on board, executive committees of California Healthcare Institute, tech booster Octane, where he’s cofounder.
Just took over as chairman of trade group AdvaMed. Has pushed for easier access for U.S. devices in global markets. Advocates innovation through California Healthcare Institute work.
Bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind. Honorary doctorate from Rose-Hulman.
Married to wife Linda for 32 years. No children.
Enjoys jogging, skiing. Die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. Interested in projects for people with special needs. Brother has Down syndrome. Of Lebanese heritage.
,Vita Reed
DAVID EDMUND IAN PYOTT
Chairman, chief executive
Allergan Inc.
Born in London, Oct. 13, 1953
Lives in San Juan Capistrano
Heads OC’s most valuable company with recent market value of $17 billion.
Moved Allergan into new era, thanks to 2006’s $3.2 billion buy of Inamed. Company now firmly rooted in medical cosmetics,wrinkle removers, smoothers, breast implants, obesity treatment.
Seeking new uses for Botox, company’s core drug used for wrinkles, taming neck spasms. Clinical trials ongoing for Botox as migraine treatment. Botox sales last year surpassed $1 billion mark.
“Kind of rolls off the tongue well, Botox and billion,” he says.
Confident Botox, medical cosmetics will hold up in slower economy, despite concerns raised by analysts.
Allergan also makes eye, skin drugs. Eyes are company’s historical bailiwick.
Took over Allergan in 1998. During past 10 years, shifted money to research, development, sales, marketing.
Well-traveled, soft-spoken worldly sort with dry sense of humor, refined Scottish brogue.
Joined Sandoz, later Novartis, in 1980. Spent more than 15 years with company in various positions, including as head of Sandoz Nutrition unit in 1995 to 1997.
Director, Edwards Lifesciences, Pacific Life, Avery Dennison.
On boards of UC Irvine business school, UCI Chief Executive Roundtable, Pan Am-erican Ophthalmolog-ical Foundation, Ad-visory Board for the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Cal-ifornia Healthcare Institute, International Council of Ophthalmology Foundation, Cosmetic Surgery Foundation, Biotechnology Industry Organization.
Highly educated. Holds diplomas in German, European law from Europa Institute at University of Amsterdam. Master’s from University of Edinburgh, business master’s from London Business School.
In 2006, received Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth.
Named among most outstanding CEOs this year by Institutional Investor magazine.
Raised in India, educated in Scotland. Fluent in English, German, French, Spanish.
Known for frugality. Office newly remodeled but still has much of same furniture formative CEO Gavin Herbert Jr. used during his time. Some flash: drives snazzy Aston Martin.
Married to Julianna. Four children. Enjoys playing tennis. Has house in Bavarian Alps, goes for retreats from voice mail, e-mail. Says had some of best ideas walking through woods there.
,Vita Reed
HONORABLE MENTION:
ALLEN CHAO
Chairman
Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.
SAID HILAL
Chief executive
Applied Medical Resources Corp.
PETE KLAES
VP, general manager
B. Braun McGaw Inc.
KENNETH LICKEL
VP, general manager
Alcon Inc.’s Irvine Technology Center
WILLIAM LINK
Managing director
Versant Ventures
DEBORAH PROCTOR
Chief executive, president
St. Joseph Health System
MAUREEN ZEHNTNER
Chief executive
UCI Medical Center
