Former Alcon executive joins Iridex as CEO

Mountain View, CA-Barry G. Caldwell, a former vice president and general manager with Alcon's U.S. surgical division and vice president of Alcon Canada, has joined Iridex Corp. as president and chief executive officer.

Caldwell, who has spent more than 30 years in management roles within the ophthalmic industry, succeeds Theodore A. Boutacoff, 58, who was elected chairman of the Iridex board of directors earlier this year. Boutacoff has served as president and chief executive officer since 1989.

Caldwell, who also was elected to the board, spent more than 20 years with Alcon Laboratories. He worked as vice president of sales, marketing, and technical services for Alcon's surgical instrumentation unit, where he led a staff of 250, and later as vice president and general manager of that unit. As vice president of Alcon Canada, he guided its consumer business to a leading market share position.

Under his leadership, the surgical segment grew into a $600 million division and market share significantly increased. Caldwell also created and executed a long-term corporate development and acquisition strategy for Alcon and was responsible for managing the company's relationships with legislative and regulatory agencies.