Kevin Buehler was appointed president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Alcon effective April 1, 2009. Prior to his appointment at Alcon, Buehler was senior vice president, global markets and chief marketing officer, a position he had held since 2006. After joining Alcon in 1984 as a regional sales manager in the Consumer Products Division, Buehler moved up through this organization over the next several years where he held numerous sales and marketing positions. In 1996, Buehler was named director of Alcon’s US Managed Care and Falcon Generic Pharmaceutical groups, where he gained significant experience with the pharmaceutical and surgical business areas and was promoted to vice president in 1998. The following year he returned to the US Consumer Products Division as vice president and general manager. In January of 2002, Buehler relocated to the International Division as vice president and regional manager, Latin America and Caribbean. He was later named area vice president, Latin America, Canada, Australia and Far East. Buehler holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, with concentrations in Business Administration and Political Science. He also completed the Harvard Program for Management Development in 1993.
Joan W. Miller is chief and chair of ophthalmology and Henry Willard Williams professor of ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Miller’s research interests are focused on ocular neovascularization, particularly as it relates to macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, including the role of growth factors, the development of antiangiogenic therapy and photodynamic therapy. Dr. Miller has received numerous awards, including the Rosenthal Award of the Macula Society, the Retina Research Award from the Club Jules Gonin and the Alcon Research Institute Award. Dr. Miller’s professional affiliations include the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc. (ARVO) and the New England Ophthalmological Society (NEOS). Dr. Miller earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her medical degree from Harvard Medical School.
Hermann Wirz is chief accounting officer (senior vice president and head of group accounting & reporting) for Nestle S.A. Wirz started his career in 1968 in financial and management accounting for Electrical Company Lucerne Switzerland. From 1969 through 1971, he held a management accounting roles for Shell Switzerland. Wirz joined Nestle in 1972 and worked in industrial accounting and budgeting functions for Nestle England, Spain and Venezuela. He subsequently was appointed manager operational control Latin America for Nestec Switzerland in 1980 and in 1984 was moved to director of finance & control for Nestle Peru and for Nestle Venezuela in 1989. Wirz was appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer of Nestle Mexico in 1995 and served in that position through 2000. He achieved his degree in Business Administration in Lucerne, Switzerland, and has completed the Programme for Executive Development at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
