Bausch + Lomb Appoints Thomas J. Appio as Interim CEO as Brent Saunders Departs
Bausch + Lomb Corporation, a leading global eye health company, and its parent company, Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC), have announced the appointment of Thomas J. Appio as interim chief executive officer of Bausch + Lomb, effective immediately. Appio, who currently serves as chief executive officer of Bausch Health, will continue in that position while taking on leadership responsibilities at Bausch + Lomb.
The leadership transition comes as the company looks to build on its existing business momentum, strengthen its strategic position and pursue further growth opportunities across the global eye health market. Appio was appointed chairman of the Bausch + Lomb Board of Directors in August 2026, and the Board believes his extensive knowledge of the business, international leadership experience and longstanding association with the company make him well suited to guide its next phase of development.
As part of the announcement, Bausch + Lomb confirmed that Brent Saunders, who has served as the company’s chief executive officer since 2023, will depart the organization. Saunders and the Board of Directors mutually agreed on his departure. His tenure included efforts to strengthen the company’s strategic direction, develop its product pipeline and position the business for future opportunities in the competitive eye health sector.
The appointment places Appio in a dual leadership role across Bausch + Lomb and its parent company, Bausch Health. His familiarity with both organizations is expected to support continuity in leadership as Bausch + Lomb continues to advance its business priorities and serve patients, healthcare professionals and customers worldwide.
Thomas J. Appio Brings Extensive Leadership Experience
Appio has served as chief executive officer of Bausch Health since 2022. During his tenure, Bausch Health, excluding Bausch + Lomb, recorded 13 consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth in revenue and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), a non-GAAP financial measure.
This performance highlights Appio’s experience overseeing business operations and financial performance within the broader corporate organization. His appointment to lead Bausch + Lomb brings that experience to a company operating across several segments of the global eye health industry.
Before becoming CEO of Bausch Health, Appio held multiple leadership positions at Bausch + Lomb. He joined the company in 2010 as managing director for China, where he gained experience in international operations and market development. In 2016, he assumed the role of president of Bausch + Lomb International, expanding his leadership responsibilities across the company’s international business.
These positions provided Appio with an understanding of the company’s global operations, commercial activities and relationships with customers in different markets. His experience within Bausch + Lomb before its initial public offering (IPO) in 2022 also gives him historical knowledge of the business and its development.
His appointment as interim CEO follows his selection as chairman of the Bausch + Lomb Board of Directors in August 2026. The Board’s decision to place him in the interim chief executive role reflects its confidence in his familiarity with the company’s operations and his ability to lead the organization during the transition.
For Bausch + Lomb, leadership continuity may be particularly important as the company works to maintain its commercial performance, support product development and respond to changing needs across the eye health market.
Appio Highlights Commitment to Growth and Patient Care
Commenting on his appointment, Appio expressed enthusiasm about leading Bausch + Lomb and emphasized the importance of its employees, product portfolio and commitment to patients and customers.
“The opportunity to lead Bausch + Lomb is both a privilege and a responsibility that I embrace with great enthusiasm,” Appio said.
He added that the company is supported by the strength of its workforce, the quality of its portfolio and its ongoing commitment to serving customers and patients around the world.
“With a strong foundation, we are well positioned to build on our momentum and deliver sustainable growth,” Appio said.
His comments indicate that the company intends to build on its existing business strengths while pursuing long-term development opportunities. The emphasis on its portfolio and global customer base also highlights the importance of maintaining commercial relationships and advancing products that address the needs of patients and healthcare professionals.
As interim CEO, Appio will be responsible for leading Bausch + Lomb’s overall business operations and guiding its strategic priorities. His continued role as CEO of Bausch Health means he will also retain responsibility for the parent company’s broader operations.
The dual appointment brings leadership responsibilities for both organizations under one executive, while allowing Appio to draw on his experience across the corporate structure.
Bausch + Lomb’s Position in the Global Eye Health Market
Bausch + Lomb is a global eye health company serving patients and healthcare professionals through its eye care products and related technologies. Its business operates in a market shaped by demand for vision correction, eye health management and treatments addressing a variety of ocular conditions.
The eye health sector includes products and services spanning contact lenses, lens care, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, surgical technologies and other vision-related solutions. Companies in this market must continually respond to evolving patient needs, technological developments, healthcare practices and competitive pressures.
For Bausch + Lomb, maintaining a strong product portfolio and supporting the development of new solutions remain important elements of its long-term business strategy. A robust pipeline can create opportunities for future product introductions, while established commercial operations support relationships with healthcare professionals, distributors and patients.
Appio’s previous international leadership experience may be relevant to these priorities, given the different commercial and regulatory environments in which global eye health companies operate.
His appointment also comes with an emphasis on sustainable growth. Achieving that objective typically requires companies to balance current business performance with investments in innovation, operational capabilities and customer support.
Although the company has not detailed any new strategic initiatives as part of the leadership announcement, Appio’s stated focus on building momentum suggests an intention to continue developing the business from its existing foundation.
Brent Saunders to Depart Following Leadership Tenure
Saunders has served as CEO of Bausch + Lomb since 2023. His departure follows a mutual agreement with the company’s Board of Directors.
Reflecting on his time at the company, Saunders said he had returned to Bausch + Lomb believing it had significant potential for development. He described the organization as stronger, more focused and better positioned for the future than when he returned.
“When I returned to Bausch + Lomb, I believed this company had tremendous potential,” Saunders said.
“Today, it is stronger, more focused and better positioned for the future, with a clearer strategy, a more robust pipeline and significant opportunities ahead,” he added.
Saunders also credited the company’s progress to the contributions of its employees, highlighting their talent, commitment and enthusiasm.
“The progress we’ve made reflects the talent, passion and commitment of colleagues across the organization, and I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished together,” he said.
His remarks point to several areas of development during his leadership, including strategic clarity and pipeline advancement. A more developed product pipeline can help a company pursue future commercial opportunities, although the ultimate impact depends on continued development, applicable regulatory requirements and successful market adoption.
The transition marks the end of Saunders’ tenure as chief executive and the beginning of Appio’s interim leadership period. The company has not specified a permanent CEO appointment as part of the announcement.
Leadership Transition Across Bausch Health and Bausch + Lomb
The appointment creates a direct leadership link between Bausch Health and its eye health subsidiary at a time when Bausch + Lomb is focused on sustaining its business momentum and pursuing additional growth.
Appio’s experience at Bausch Health provides him with familiarity with the parent company’s financial and operational priorities. His earlier roles at Bausch + Lomb, meanwhile, give him insight into the eye health business and its international activities.
The combination of these experiences could help support coordination between the two organizations while Bausch + Lomb navigates the executive transition. However, the announcement did not provide details about any changes to the company’s operating structure, financial targets or business strategy.
For investors, employees and customers, the appointment establishes an immediate leadership arrangement while the company continues its operations. Appio’s familiarity with the organization may also help preserve continuity in ongoing commercial and development activities.
Bausch + Lomb and Bausch Health will continue to operate within the broader eye health and healthcare markets, where companies face ongoing demands to deliver products, support innovation and maintain financial performance.
Focus on the Company’s Next Phase of Development
The appointment of Thomas J. Appio as interim CEO represents a significant leadership change for Bausch + Lomb. With experience spanning international operations, executive leadership and the broader Bausch Health organization, Appio takes responsibility for guiding the eye health company following Saunders’ departure.
The Board of Directors has highlighted his knowledge of the business and global leadership background as important qualifications for the role. Appio has also emphasized the company’s employees, product portfolio and commitment to patients as key foundations for its future growth.
Meanwhile, Saunders leaves the company having described progress in strategic focus and pipeline development during his tenure.
As the transition takes effect, Bausch + Lomb’s priorities include building on its existing business momentum, maintaining its commitment to customers and patients, and pursuing sustainable growth opportunities. The leadership announcement does not outline new financial guidance or specific changes to the company’s development programmes, but it establishes the executive responsible for leading the organization through its next phase.
With Appio serving simultaneously as CEO of Bausch Health and interim CEO of Bausch + Lomb, the company will move forward under an executive who has held leadership positions within both organizations. His immediate task will be to maintain operational continuity while guiding Bausch + Lomb’s ongoing business and strategic activities across the global eye health market.
About Bausch + Lomb
Our mission is simple – we help people see better to live better, all over the world. For nearly two centuries we’ve evolved with the changing needs of patients and customers, and our commitment to innovation and improving the standard of care in eye health has never been stronger. From contact lenses to prescription products, over-the-counter options, surgical devices and more, we’re turning bold ideas into better outcomes through passion, perseverance and purpose. Learn more at www.bausch.com and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
About Bausch Health
Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC)(TSX:BHC) is a global, diversified pharmaceutical company enriching lives through our relentless drive to deliver better health care outcomes. We develop, manufacture and market a range of products primarily in gastroenterology, hepatology, neuroscience, dermatology, dentistry, aesthetics, international pharmaceuticals and eye health, through our controlling interest in Bausch + Lomb Corporation. Our ambition is to be a globally integrated healthcare company, trusted and valued by patients, HCPs, employees and investors. For more information about Bausch Health, visit www.bauschhealth.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.