Donnenfeld to lead Advanced Vision Research

WOBURN, Mass. Advanced Vision Research on Friday named Neil Donnenfeld the company’s new CEO and director.

Donnenfeld most recently served as SVP 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.

Donnenfeld succeeds Jeffrey Gilbard, the company’s founder, who passed in August following a bicycle accident.

“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,” Donnenfeld stated. “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, most notably for engineering 12 consecutive years of record sales and profitability for the company across its OTC offerings. Advanced Vision Research was recognized three times by INC magazine as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in America and by Drug Store News as one of the top niche brands for the past four years.

Prior to joining Advanced Vision Research, Donnenfeld was director of marketing at NutraMax Products, a leader in private label health and beauty care. Before that he managed the Bain de Soleil Suncare Brand at Procter & Gamble and worked on other P&G brands including Dramamine, Icy Hot, Clearasil and Oil of Olay.

A resident of Swampscott, Mass., where he resides with his wife Liz and their two daughters, Donnenfeld attended Dartmouth College and received his MBA in Marketing from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.