Jason Menzo Joins Foundation Fighting Blindness as Chief Operating Officer

Notable industry executive brings more than 15 years of ophthalmic experience and award winning achievement to FFB's mission

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Foundation Fighting Blindness

Mar 12, 2018, 07:00 ET

COLUMBIA, Md., March 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) has appointed Jason Menzo as its chief operating officer to lead the retinal-research non-profit's fiscal, fundraising, communications, and managerial operations.

Menzo is recognized for his passionate leadership and a proven track record of building and leading successful teams in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

Most recently, he led Sun Pharma's emerging eye care division, Sun Ophthalmics, as vice president and business unit head. In just over two years, Menzo helped found and then lead the group from start up to one of the most recognized organizations in the space, consisting of more than 100 high-performing professionals.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness is the world's leading private source of research funding for preventions, treatments, and cures for retinal degenerative diseases. Having raised more than $725 million since its inception in 1971, FFB currently funds 115 researchers at 67 prominent institutions worldwide.

"Jason's appointment as chief operating officer is an important strategic move for the Foundation and coincides with our focus on growing our collaboration with the biotech and pharmaceutical industries to drive clinical research," says Benjamin Yerxa, PhD, chief executive officer at FFB. "He brings exceptional industry experience and energy to our mission. We are confident that with Jason's leadership, we can operate more strategically and effectively to accelerate development of sight-saving treatments and cures."

"I am privileged to join the Foundation Fighting Blindness, an organization that not only plays a leadership role in driving critical research, but is also a closely-knit family for those losing their vision to myriad, devastating retinal diseases," says Menzo. "I plan to build on the strong momentum that its leaders and constituents have generated in recent years and am excited to be part of this passionate and dedicated community."

Prior to joining Sun Pharma, Menzo was senior director, and head of marketing & operations at Nicox, an international ophthalmic research and development company. In that role, he led several commercial functions including: marketing, training, reimbursement, customer service, public relations, and advocacy. Mr. Menzo also led the successful development and launch of several breakthrough brands into the ophthalmic marketplace.

He has been recognized as "One of the 50 Outstanding Innovators in Pharma (marketing)"; and "Ophthalmic Marketer of the Year" by Product Manager 360, a leading trade publication.

The mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness is to drive the research that will bring an end to the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt disease, and Usher syndrome. These conditions affect more than 10 million people in the US and 150 million people worldwide. In addition to funding research at prominent academic labs, FFB is partnering with biotech and pharmaceutical companies to advance emerging therapies into and through clinical trials and out to the people who need them. The Foundation has launched a global patient registry, www.MyRetinaTracker.org, to build knowledge of retinal diseases and advance clinical research. Visit www.FightBlindness.org for the latest information on retinal disease research. Follow the Foundation on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact: Ben Shaberman
[email protected]
410-423-0634

SOURCE Foundation Fighting Blindness