LARRY WOOD
CORPORATE VICE PRESIDENT,
TRANSCATHETER AORTIC HEART VALVE REPLACEMENT
EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES
WHY: Heads largest business unit at Irvine-based heart valve giant, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, also known as TAVR. Group accounted for 65% of Edwards’ sales in 2023.
IN THE NEWS: Came up with idea to study former NFL players, about 60% to 70% of whom are African Americans, for the prevalence of heart disease and associated risk factors.
NOTABLE: In 2022, Wood took on an expanded role as group president with additional leadership responsibility for the Surgical Structural Heart unit, which reported $1B in 2023 sales.
QUOTABLE: “If we detect hypertension early, we may stop people from getting our products,” Wood said. “We’re in the business of helping people, not accelerating heart diseases.”
