Bausch & Lomb appoints new CEO

Rochester, NY

-Bausch & Lomb announced it has appointed Gerald M. Ostrov as chairman and chief executive officer to succeed Ronald Zarella.

Ostrov, 58, most recently was company group chairman, worldwide vision care, for Johnson & Johnson from 1998 to 2006. He first joined Johnson & Johnson in 1976, before leaving for Ciba-Geigy AG in 1982. He returned to Johnson & Johnson in 1991.

Zarella, also 58, took over at Bausch & Lomb in 2001 and will retire in March but will stay on as chairman emeritus. He previously served as chairman and president of General Motors Corp.

"It's an honor to lead Bausch & Lomb into a growth period, one that we believe will be marked by considerable success across the vision care, pharmaceutical and surgical businesses," Ostrov said in a prepared statement.