Company news: New head of AVR

Advanced Vision Research (the Theratears company) has named Neil Donnelfeld as CEO to replace founder Dr. Jeff Gilbard who died tragically last year.

Neil Donnenfeld named CEO of Advanced Vision Research

Swampscott —
Neil D. Donnenfeld of Swampscott has been named chief executive officer of Advanced Vision Research of Woburn, makers of the TheraTears and MacuTrition brands for dry eye and macular degeneration. He was also named as a director of the company.

Donnenfeld has extensive experience with Advanced Vision Research and has been instrumental in its growth. He most recently served as the company’s senior vice president of global sales and marketing, a position he held since 2005.

Donnenfeld, 48, joined AVR in May 1998, shortly after Advanced Vision Research was originally formed as an over-the-counter eye care company to market and distribute TheraTears products.

Advanced Vision Research continues to rebound after the sudden loss of Jeffrey P. Gilbard, MD, the company’s founder, CEO and chief scientific officer last August.

Noted Donnenfeld, “I’m honored to have been chosen as the new CEO of Advanced Vision Research where we are dedicated to continuing the path blazed by Dr. Gilbard. We are eager to introduce revolutionary new products that are already in the pipeline, and look forward to the development of new advances in eye care treatment that improve patients’ lives.”

Donnenfeld has been involved in most aspects of building Advanced Vision Research and its brand portfolio and has maintained close connections with the professional community that forms the base of TheraTears and MacuTrition’s loyal advocates, including optometrists and ophthalmologists.