PEOPLE
Compiled by Kristyn von Rotz
Palmisano Joins IntraLase as CEO
Robert Palmisano, an eye care industry veteran who sold his last company to Alcon Inc., has joined Irvine’s Intralase Corp. as chief executive.
Palmisano’s challenge is to win over doctors to Intralase’s product, which replaces blades with lasers in vision-correction surgery.
IntraLase’s offerings include IntraLase FS, a pulse laser for creating a flap on a patient’s cornea,the first step in laser vision correction surgery. The company also provides IntraLASIK, software that helps surgeons create precise measurements for making corneal flaps.
Palmisano and other IntraLase officials say their laser device is a safer way of doing eye surgery than using a microkeratome, a device that holds a metal razor blade to create a corneal flap.
But Intralase still faces competition from blade makers, including Bausch & Lomb Inc., which continue to improve their products.
Palmisano is familiar with Bausch & Lomb. He spent 13 years at the Rochester, N.Y.-based company before starting Waltham, Mass.-based Summit Autonomous Inc., an eye laser company bought by Nestle SA’s Alcon in 2000.
The goal at Intralase isn’t necessarily to take the company down the same road as Summit, Palmisano said.
“Whatever happens, happens,” he said.
For now, Palmisano said his aim is to grow sales and profits and to “build the company up to a point where there are options.”
Intralase is six years old and has raised more than $70 million in venture funding.
Palmisano earned a bachelor’s in political science,after switching from a chemistry major,from Providence College in Providence, R.I. He lives in Newport Beach and has three grown children.
,Helen Afrasiabi
CONSTRUCTION
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FINANCE
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LAW
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MARKETING
Young & Rubicam Advertising promoted Cheryl Hayes to associate director of people services. In this newly created position, Hayes is responsible for developing and implementing human resources strategy. She has been with Y & R; since 2001.
NONPROFIT
The Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach named its board members for 2003-2004: Martin Roberts, president; Tracey Moscaritolo, vice president; Larry Gill, secretary; Mike Kelly treasurer; and Debra Covern, Eleanor Henry, Helen McNamara, Marsh Scott and Drew Weir. All members are Laguna Beach residents and exhibitors at the festival.
Fred Ameri, senior vice president of Irvine-based RBF Consulting, was elected chairman of the board of the World Affairs Council of Orange County. The council offers international exchanges, school programs, teacher workshops, model United Nations, foreign policy discussions, national opinion polling, travel programs, journals, newspaper columns and local radio and television programs.
REAL ESTATE
Eagle Real Estate Group named H. Gordon MacKenzie as chairman of the board and principal. He will oversee the construction division. MacKenzie has nearly 30 years of residential and commercial development experience. He previously served as president and chief executive of Polygon Development in Vancouver, British Columbia. Barry Latham joins Eagle as construction director. Latham will run the construction division and oversee all construction supervisors. Prior to Eagle, Latham was project manager for Western National Construction in Irvine.
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