New B&L manager in Ireland

Colum Honan is to be Bausch & Lomb's general manager with responsibility for its Waterford plant which manufactures contact lenses and other eye health products.

He was previously deputy general manager and held a number of positions in which he managed successful projects where new products were taken from design to manufacturing to market launch.

Honan was involved with the successful transfer of the key new PureVision lens from the research and development stage to manufacturing.

In 1999, he was given responsibility as site leader for the industrialization of a new drug application which is now marketed as Retisert, a fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant, which represents a dramatic advance in the management of chronic non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye.

He replaces Frank O'Regan, who last year was named vice president, Operations, Global Vision Care. Honan continues to report to O'Regan.

Welcoming the appointment, Frank O'Regan said: "Colum has a solid record of taking new products and processes from early product development phases right through to successful market launch with maximum efficiency. He takes over responsibility for the Waterford manufacturing site at a very challenging time when his management strengths will be a major asset in steering the business to a successful future."