Huenenberg, Switzerland - October 25, 2010, Huenenberg, Switzerland - Alcon, an eye care company, announced that is has elected Daniel Vasella as its chairman of the board, replacing Cary Rayment.
Since 1996 Dr. Vasella has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Novartis Group and as executive member of the Board of Directors of Novartis AG. In 1999, he additionally was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Novartis AG. Dr. Vasella graduated with an M.D. from the University of Berne in 1979.
After holding a number of medical positions in Switzerland, Dr. Vasella joined Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Corporation in the U.S.A. in 1988. From 1993 to 1995, Dr. Vasella advanced from Head of Corporate Marketing to Senior Vice President and Head of Worldwide Development to Chief Operating Officer of Sandoz Pharma Ltd.
In 1995 and 1996, Dr. Vasella was a member of the Sandoz Group Executive Committee and Chief Executive Officer of Sandoz Pharma. Dr. Vasella is a member of the Board of Directors of Pepsico, a member of the Board of Dean’s Advisors at the Harvard Business School, and a member of the INSEAD Board of Directors.
Mr. Rayment was appointed to the position of chairman on May 3, 2005. Following his retirement as president and chief executive officer April 1, 2009, he continued to serve in the role as non-executive chairman.
Mr. Rayment joined Alcon in 1989 (following the acquisition of CooperVision IOL) as vice president, marketing, Surgical Products. Mr. Rayment served as vice president and general manager, Surgical Products 1991-1995; vice president and general manager, Managed Care in 1996; vice president, International Marketing in 1997 (adding responsibility for Alcon Japan in 1998); and returned to the Surgical Division as vice president and general manager in 2000.
Mr. Rayment became senior vice president of US Operations in 2001 and was named president and chief executive officer in 2004.
Mr. Rayment began his career with the Kendall Company in 1974, where he served in a variety of sales and marketing positions. In 1983, he joined CooperVision IOL as director of sales and marketing, and was promoted to vice president of marketing.
Mr. Rayment holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Washington in Seattle, as well as a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. He is a graduate of the Harvard Program for Management Development. ■