Abbott Medical Optics' chief exec Jim Mazzo is on deck to be the next chairman of AdvaMed, succeeding the outgoing Michael Mussallem.

Edwards Lifesciences CEO Mussallem has held the AdvaMed chairmanship since March 2008 and his two-year term expires next month, when Mazzo will officially take over, according to the device trade association. An official announcement is expected on March 4, AdvaMed says.

A current AdvaMed board member, Mazzo is the former chairman and CEO of ophthalmic device maker Advanced Medical Optics. When AMO was acquired by Abbott in February 2009, he stayed on to lead the business as senior VP, Abbott Medical Optics.

Mazzo brings a wealth of experience to the AdvaMed chairmanship. In addition to holding a key role at Abbott, a diversified maker of devices, diagnostics and drugs, the exec previously held various senior executive-level positions at Allergan prior to its spinoff of AMO in 2002, including president of Allergan's Europe/Africa/Middle East region. In 2008, Mazzo also was named chair of the AdvaMed board's international committee.

Priorities for Mazzo upon assuming the AdvaMed chairmanship will include advocating for the device industry as historic debates continue to rage over health care reform and potential changes to FDA's 510(k) program (¹ Also see "FDA Hints At Possible 510(k) Tweaks At Public Meeting" - Medtech Insight, 22 February, 2010.).

While AdvaMed believes the 510(k) program is "fundamentally sound," the trade association says it supports certain improvements.

"One of the most fundamental elements of it that we'd like to see improved is more and clearer guidance from the FDA in terms of how do you use the system," Mussallem said during a Feb. 24 briefing on policy priorities.

"We think that's a great way to align the industry and the interests of FDA," the exec said.

- Jon Dobson ( ² j.dobson@elsevier.com )

AdvaMed's Next Chairman Is Abbott Exec Jim Mazzo

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