Michael A. Mussallem

Mr. Mussallem is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, a position he has held since the Baxter Cardio Vascular Group was spun off from Baxter International Inc. and began operating as an independent, publicly traded company in April 2000. Previously, Mussallem was responsible for the worldwide operations of both Baxter's Cardio Vascular business, which he headed since 1995, and its Biopharmaceuticals business, which he was appointed to lead in 1998. Edwards Lifesciences designs, develops and markets a comprehensive line of products and services to treat late-stage cardiovascular disease. The worldwide leader in tissue replacement heart valves and heart valve repair products, the company is focused on four main areas: cardiac surgery, critical care, vascular systems, and perfusion products and services. Mussallem, joined Baxter in 1979 and progressed through a variety of increasingly responsible positions in manufacturing, engineering and product development. In 1984, he was appointed General Manager, Access Products, and in 1986, he was promoted to Vice President, Product Development for Parenterals. Mussallem was designated General Manager, Pharmaceuticals Division, in 1987, and President of the Bentley Division in 1988. He was named President of Baxter's Critical Care Division in 1993, and group Vice President of Baxter's Surgical Group in 1994. From 1996 through 1998, he was Chairman of Baxter's Asia-Pacific Board, which coordinated regional initiatives across all of Baxter's businesses. Mussallem serves on the Boards of Directors of the California Healthcare Institute and the Medical Technology Leadership Forum, and is a member of the Business Roundtable of the Keck Graduate Institute. Prior to joining Baxter, Mussallem worked for Union Carbide. He received a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering in 1974 from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana, which conferred upon him an honorary doctorate in 1999.