ORLANDO — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) has named longtime industry advisor Fuad Sawaya as the recipient of its 2026 Ivan D. Combe Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing more than three decades of leadership and influence across the consumer healthcare sector.
The award, presented at the opening session of CHPA’s annual Self-Care Leadership Summit here, is the organization’s highest honor. It recognizes individuals whose careers have had a lasting impact on the industry, the advancement of consumer self-care, and their broader communities.
“Fuad Sawaya is a truly deserving recipient of our industry’s highest honor,” said CHPA president and chief executive officer Scott Melville. “His lifetime of business excellence, association involvement, and personal contributions to his community have left a lasting impact on our industry and the lives of those he has influenced.”
Named after industry pioneer Ivan D. Combe, the award is given annually to a leader who demonstrates business excellence, industry leadership and a commitment to community service.
A Career Shaping Consumer Healthcare
Sawaya is widely regarded as one of the most influential advisors in consumer healthcare, having spent more than 30 years guiding companies and investors on strategy, value creation and portfolio optimization.
He is the founder and former chief executive officer of Sawaya Partners, a merger-and-acquisition advisory firm focused on the consumer sector. In 2021, the firm joined Canaccord Genuity, expanding its capabilities and deepening its reach within consumer industries, including healthcare.
Over the course of his career, Sawaya has advised on more than 150 transactions, working with leading companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, Perrigo, Prestige Consumer Healthcare, GlaxoSmithKline and Lil’ Drug Store Products.
His work has included several landmark deals that reshaped the consumer health landscape, including Bayer’s divestitures of Dr. Scholl’s and Coppertone, as well as multiple strategic transactions involving Johnson & Johnson’s consumer business, now operating as Kenvue.
Beyond individual deals, Sawaya has played a key role in building and scaling consumer health platforms such as Foundation Consumer Healthcare, Advantice, Bridges and Focus Consumer Healthcare—companies that have helped expand access to over-the-counter and self-care products across the United States.
Industry Leadership and Engagement
Sawaya has also been deeply involved with CHPA for more than two decades, serving as a trusted advisor to member companies and contributing to broader industry dialogue around consumer healthcare.
According to the association, he has actively supported CHPA’s initiatives as well as the Health In Hand Foundation, helping to advance the role of self-care in improving public health outcomes.
His influence has extended beyond transactional work to shaping strategic thinking across the sector, particularly as companies navigate evolving consumer needs, regulatory dynamics and the growing importance of self-directed healthcare.
A Personal Commitment to Service
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Sawaya has been recognized for his philanthropic and community efforts.
He co-founded the Helen Sawaya Fund, which supports complementary services such as music therapy, art programs and emotional support within Mount Sinai’s oncology programs, reflecting a broader focus on holistic, patient-centered care.
His philanthropic work also includes support for education initiatives in Lebanon, involvement with Columbia Business School’s Chazen Institute Global Advisory Board, and contributions to civic and cultural organizations such as the Central Park Conservancy and the Metropolitan Opera.
Earlier in his life, Sawaya’s upbringing in Lebanon during the civil war helped shape his perspective and leadership approach. He later earned a degree in civil engineering from the American University of Beirut and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School before beginning his career on Wall Street.
Recognizing a Lasting Impact
Sawaya received the Combe Award before an audience of more than 300 industry executives, along with family and colleagues, at the Orlando event.
He joins a distinguished group of past recipients whose careers have helped define the modern consumer healthcare industry.
For CHPA and its members, the recognition underscores the growing importance of strategic leadership and innovation in advancing consumer self-care—an area where Sawaya’s influence has been both broad and enduring.
