SCOTT T. GARRETT
CEO, President
Beckman Coulter Inc.
Born in Milwaukee, Jan. 19, 1950
Lives in Lemon Heights
Putting mark on county’s largest medical technology company by sales in second year at helm.
Last year, changed way Beckman accounts for instrument leases. Sales now spread over life of lease.
Immediate impact: lower sales, profits. Long-term payoff could come from locking lease holders into buying supplies, chemistry kits, services, which account for 60% of yearly sales.
Also combined company’s dominant clinical diagnostics unit serving labs running tests for doctors, hospitals, with smaller biomedical research arm. Part of Garrett’s vision that Beckman is one company. Cut 350 jobs as part of change.
Looking to boost efficiency this year. Opening Southern California distribution center, reducing suppliers, contracting out some manufacturing. Just came out with pair of workhorse instruments that analysts are praising. Faces stepped up competition from rivals. Sees instruments that automate running of tests as key.
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 medical 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 OC. Employs 9,850 people, 2,217 in OC. More than 200,000 instruments in use worldwide. Started in 1935. Founder Arnold Beckman died two years ago at 104.
Makes centrifuges, DNA, automated testing systems for body fluids, blood cells, compounds.
Garrett, like successor, longtime Beckman chief John Wareham, has businesslike manner coupled with low-key, pleasant personality. Cites Wareham as mentor, influence.
Holds 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. Hobbies include golf, reading: “I spend a lot of time on airplanes, so it’s a good hobby to have.”
,Vita Reed
LAWRENCE MEAD HIGBY
CEO, Apria Healthcare Group Inc.
Born in Pomona, June 15, 1945
Lives in Newport Beach (Lido Isle)
Leader of country’s largest home healthcare company with $1.5 billion in yearly sales. Had tumultuous 2005.
In October, dropped effort to sell company. Had hired Morgan Stanley to look at sale. Process proved drawn out, complicated by lawsuit, debt, falling profits, Medicare issues.
Could face more Medicare-related challenges. President Bush has called for slowing Medicare spending growth in his budget for 2007 fiscal year. Higby, well-known in Republican politics, outspoken critic of administration proposal to steer Medicare beneficiaries into owning oxygen gear.
Provides home drug infusion treatments, respirators, wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, other products.
Forgoing salary increase, bonus this year along with other Apria executives amid weaker performance.
Has grown company by buying mom-and-pop operations. Diverse revenue base with about 39% coming from Medicare, Med-icaid. Private in-surers make up bulk of revenue.
Wall Street likes lower exposure to Medicare, which often bears brunt of budget cuts.
Touts low-cost operating structure as way to offset cuts.
Company created 11 years ago from combination of Abbey Healthcare Group, Homedco Group.
Was Apria’s president, COO. Succeeded turnaround specialist, former OC 50er Philip Carter, who worked to turn around Apria with Higby.
Arrived at Apria through Homedco faction once led by OC 50er George Argyros, who resigned as Apria director in 1998.
Pre-Apria career includes running 76 Products, oil refining, marketing arm of Unocal. Negotiated 76 Products’ 1996 sale from Unocal 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.”
Former chairman of New Majority, socially moderate Republican business group. Big backer of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Bachelor’s in political science from UCLA, attended business school there.
This year, joined board of William Lyon Homes, part of replacement group of directors who stepped down last year after OC 50er William Lyon’s first bid to take company private.
On boards of UCI Medical Center, South Coast Performing Arts Center, South Coast Repertory, UCLA Board of Visitors.
Wife Dee is former chair of South Coast Repertory. Three sons, daughter, ages 26 to 34. Likes skiing, jogging, golf, theater, sailing.
JAMES VITO MAZZO
Advanced Medical Optics Inc.
Born in Oak Park, Ill., May 11, 1957
Lives in Laguna Beach
Gregarious, poised executive has become one of OC’s most visible in nearly four years he’s helmed Santa Ana-based eye surgical device, contact lens care company.
Company makes lasers, intraocular replacement lenses for cataract surgery, contact lens solutions.
Spearheaded two major acquisitions in past two years for nearly $2 billion. In 2004, finalized $450 million deal for Pfizer’s cataract surgery unit. Deal expanded intraocular lens business. Last year, spent $1.3 billion for Visx, Santa Clara maker of devices used in laser surgery. Deals bolstered company as it fights bigger rivals Alcon, with about 500 workers in Irvine, Bausch & Lomb.
Advanced Medical created in 2002 through spinoff from Allergan, company led by fellow OC 50er David Pyott. Mazzo credited with taking castaway products, building company around them.
Expects more than $1 billion in revenue this year, up from $538 million in 2002.
Spent 22 years with Allergan. Jobs included serving 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 Octane board.
Bachelor’s in zoology with secondary emphasis on chemistry from California State University, Long Beach.
Athletic in youth. Played second base, was football quarterback. Coaches team in UCI Basketball Extravaganza, fund-raiser for scholarships.
Married to Kelly, father of two college-age children.
,Vita Reed
MICHAEL ALBERT MUSSALLEM
Chairman, CEO
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.
Born in Gary, Ind., Nov. 21, 1952
Veteran chief executive refocused on heart valves after flirt with diversification a couple years ago.
Heavily invested in new type of valve that doesn’t require major surgery. Hopes to stake spot as leader in emerging market.
Hit snag last summer. Had to stop clinical trial because of patient complications. Trial redesigned, back on.
Got into less-invasive valves through 2004 purchase of Percutaneous Valve Technologies, New Jersey up-and-comer.
Loaded up on cash. Could make technology buys close to core heart valve business. Analysts have expressed mild concerns about sustainability of growth.
Company posted 2005 sales of $998 million, up 7%. Profit of $79.3 million, up leaps, bounds from year ago’s charge-laden $1.7 million.
Expects to make about $130 million on sales of $1.05 billion this year.
Spending more on R & D;: $99 million last year, compared to $87 million in prior year. R & D; 9.9% of Edwards’ 2005 revenue.
Besides heart valves, repair devices, sells heart-monitoring catheters, vascular treatments. Manufacturing in Irvine, Utah, Europe, Latin America, Japan.
Every year, assesses which jobs are needed to meet goals. Could be engineer, sales rep. Says knowing which jobs are critical as important as technology. Personally involved in filling critical jobs.
“Out of all the activities I’m involved in, I think that this is one where I provide the most value,” he says.
Few years ago, made some moves to diversify into stents for treating enlarged arteries, other areas. Effort later dropped in favor of valves, related products.
Only boss Edwards has known in six-year existence as stand-alone business.
Company established in a 2000 spinoff from Baxter International.
Mussallem joined Baxter in 1979, after working at Union Carbide.
Named Baxter general manager of access products. Eventually became general manager of Baxter’s drug division; added Bentley Labs presidency in 1989.
Was named president of Baxter’s critical care division, group VP of surgical group in 1994.
Assumed oversight of cardiovascular business from 1995 until spinoff.
Caretaker of business with historical legacy in OC, early heart valves.
On boards of AdvaMed, Advanced Medical Optics, Octane, of which he is cofounding board member. Also on California Healthcare Institute board, UCI Chief Executive Roundtable.
As chair of international board of trade group AdvaMed, has pushed for easier access for U.S. devices in global markets.
Earlier this year, one of several executives given “Advocate of the Year” by UC Alumni Association.
Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind.
Married to wife Linda for 30 years. No children.
Enjoys jogging, skiing. Die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, keeps cap in office. Interested in projects for people with special needs. Brother has Down syndrome. Of Lebanese heritage.
DAVID EDMUND IAN PYOTT
Chairman, CEO, President
Allergan Inc.
Born in London, Oct. 13, 1953
Lives in San Juan Capistrano
Head of OC’s flagship drug maker.
Has big job ahead of him,integrating Allergan’s $3.2 billion buy this year of Inamed. Santa Barbara company expected to boost Allergan in medical cosmetic market, including breast implants, skin fillers, obesity treatment.
Made surprise bid for Inamed in November, eight months after Medicis Pharmaceutical offered around $2.5 billion. Inamed’s board eventually accepted Allergan’s richer offer.
Seeking new uses for Botox, company’s core wrinkle-reducer. Clinical trials ongoing for Botox as treatment for migraine headaches. Botox sales continued to expand in late 2005. Some analysts concerned about drug’s growth slowing.
Allergan also makes skin, eye drugs. Eye drugs are company’s traditional bailiwick. Moving along with trials of memantine, pill Allergan says may be first to preserve vision in glaucoma patients.
For 2006, projecting profits of about $480 million on sales of some $2.8 billion. Historically received high marks from Wall Street for Allergan’s growth, deep product pipeline.
Took over Allergan in 1998, succeeding longtime leader William Shepherd.
During eight years at Allergan, has shifted money to research, development, sales, marketing. Recently finished big expansion of Irvine campus for extra lab space.
Well-traveled, soft-voiced, worldly sort who has a lilting Scottish brogue.
Joined Sandoz, later Novartis, in 1980. Spent more than 15 years with company in various positions, including head of Sandoz Nutrition unit in 1995.
Board memberships include UC Irvine’s business school, Pan-American Opthalmo-logical Foundation, Foundation for Ameri-can Academy of Ophthalmology, Avery Dennison, California Healthcare Institute, Edwards Lifesciences, Pacific Life’s parent company, International Council of Ophthalmology Foundation, Cosmetic Surgery Foundation, Biotechno-logy Industry Organization.
Also serves as chair of Chief Executive Roundtable for UCI.
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.
Raised in Scotland, India. Fluent in English, German, French, Spanish.
Married to Julianna with four children. Enjoys playing tennis.
,Vita Reed
TIMOTHY CYRIL TYSON
Chief Executive, President
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International
Born in Hornell, N.Y., April 14, 1952
Lives in Newport Coast
Pressing ahead with retooling of drug maker, focusing on new products, acquisitions, struggling with trial setbacks of key hepatitis treatment.
Scored some successes, including with Kinerase, a “cosmeceutical” skincare line, acquisitions, such as $113.5 million buy of Infergen, hepatitis C drug.
Stock slumped in late 2005 over concerns about Viramidine, hepatitis C treatment that Valeant hopes will supplant longtime flagship ribavirin.
In March, trial found drug was safer than ribavirin but no more effective in treating liver disease.
Plans to press on with development.
Company’s old days as ICN Pharmaceuticals a fading memory.
Launched restructuring to focus efforts on Viramidine, retigabine, drug for treating epilepsy, Infergen.
Also planning to reduce costs, license out pair of compounds, including pradefovir for hepatitis B.
Valeant sales in 2005 were $822.7 million, up 21%. Ribavirin royalties, which had been nipped by generic competition, shot up 20% to $91.6 million, on sales in Japan.
Has surrounded himself with team of experienced drug execs. Many say they’re there because of Tyson.
Arrived at Valeant in 2002 from GlaxoSmithKline. Previously president of global product manufacturing, supply for GlaxoSmithKline in Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
Started career at Procter & Gamble. Later joined Bristol-Myers.
Grew up in upstate New York, left hometown at 14 when railroad bankrupt, dad lost job. Family moved to Ithaca, where dad, retired Marine, got computer programming job at Cornell University.
Served five years in Army, 1974 graduate of West Point.
Received master’s of business, master’s of public administration from Jacksonville State University in Alabama.
Two years ago, graduation speaker at his Dryden High School in upstate New York. “As a small-town boy of modest means, I could never have imagined my life as it is today,” he told graduates.
Down-home demeanor. Deliberate, focused, attentive to detail. Used to pick up guitar, sing to sales force at Glaxo.
Married more than 30 years to Amy, sister’s best friend from high school. One son, corporate film producer living in New York.
HONORABLE MENTION
A. THOMAS BENDER
Chairman, CEO, president
Cooper Cos.
Allen Chao
Chairman, CEO
Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.
KENNETH F. LICKEL
VP, general manager, Alcon Inc.’s Irvine Technology Center
HOWARD PHANSTIEL
Executive vice president
UnitedHealth Group Inc.
Deborah Proctor
CEO, president
St. Joseph Health System
MICHAEL WALLACE
VP, general manager
B. Braun McGaw Inc.
