TOM BURNS
Chief Executive, President
Glaukos Corp.
San Clemente
Born in Highland Park, Ill.
Age: 58
Lives in San Juan Capistrano
WHY: Chief executive, director since 2002 of medical device maker that treats glaucoma, one of the world’s leading causes of blindness. Shares up threefold since early 2018 to a $2.6 billion market cap. Moving headquarters from San Clemente to a 160,000-square-foot campus in Aliso Viejo after striking one of the largest leases last year in Orange County.
HOW: Prior to Glaukos, was president of Eyetech Pharmaceuticals Inc., which was later acquired by OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. in 2005. In the 1990s, was senior vice president at Chiron Vision Corp., which was acquired by Bausch & Lomb, and then as VP of global strategy and general manager, refractive surgery, of Bausch & Lomb. Served as entrepreneur in residence at Versant Ventures Management LLC, an entity co-founded by William Link, who is also on Glaukos board and a major shareholder. Competitor Alcon last year pulled its product from the market, citing safety issues. Burns chosen as 2018 Business Journal executive of the year in the healthcare sector.
RECENT: 2018 sales rose 14% to $181.3 million. Forecasts 2019 sales accelerating between 21% and 27%, or $220 million to $230 million.
FAST FACT: Glaukos will be Aliso Viejo’s most valuable public company when it relocates later this year.
QUOTABLE: Burns on conference call in February: “Glaukos finished the year strong capping an excellent 2018 that saw [us] exceed our financial outlook each quarter, bolster our U.S. leadership with the iStent inject launch, drive increased international penetration and make significant clinical and regulatory progress to advance our transformative pipeline. While we’re pleased with the strong performance in 2018 and focused on 2019 execution, we continue to believe we’re still in the early stages of unlocking the company’s long-term value potential.”
PERSONAL: Bachelor’s degree from Yale University. Owns 6.5% of Glaukos, or 2.45 million shares worth about $175 million at press time.
