CooperCompanies CEO Al White stepped down effective immediately on October 27, 2026, as the medical device company named director Walt Rosebrough executive chair and began searching for a permanent successor.

Key Takeaways

  • Rosebrough will oversee day-to-day operations until a permanent CEO is appointed.
  • Former Johnson & Johnson executive Shlomi Nachman is scheduled to join the board on December 8, 2026.
  • The company’s release contained conflicting references to the fiscal year covered by its reaffirmed guidance.

CooperCompanies CEO search begins

White also stepped down as a director but will remain employed as a strategic adviser through April 1, 2027. Rosebrough, who joined the board in January 2026, is CEO emeritus of medical device company STERIS.

The board’s CEO search committee comprises Lawrence Kurzius, Cynthia Lucchese and Teresa Madden. Executive search firm Russell Reynolds is supporting the process.

Rosebrough said the company’s recent performance had not met expectations and that the board believed action was needed. CooperCompanies operates contact lens business CooperVision and fertility and women’s healthcare business CooperSurgical.

Board changes planned for 2027

Nachman, a former Johnson & Johnson executive whose responsibilities included vision businesses, is scheduled to become an independent director on December 8, 2026.

Barbara Carbone, Colleen Jay and Robert Weiss do not intend to seek reelection at the 2027 annual shareholder meeting. CooperCompanies plans to nominate seven directors, including Rosebrough and Nachman.

Guidance reference is inconsistent

The body of the company’s release said it reaffirmed fiscal 2026 guidance issued on September 9, 2026. Its headline instead referred to fiscal 2028 guidance. The release did not provide guidance figures.

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