Bausch + Lomb CEO Brent Saunders exits again, interim CEO Thomas Appio appointed

Bausch + Lomb announced that CEO Brent Saunders is leaving the eye health company for a second time, less than four years into his latest tenure.

The departure was mutually agreed upon by Saunders and the board, and Thomas Appio, who has been CEO of parent Bausch Health since 2022 and chair of Bausch + Lomb since August, will serve as interim CEO.

Analysts said the leadership change was unexpected given the company’s pipeline projections and commercial targets, suggesting the transition may have surprised the firm.