FYI

FYI...

News Bits from the Industry

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Safilo and Swatch have signed a five-year collaboration agreement for Swatch The Eyes eyewear, launching in spring 2016. The collection will be distributed through Swatch’s global retail network and initially in Safilo’s U.S. retail chain, Solstice, followed by selected North American eyewear retailers.

Centennial Optical has entered into a multi-year distribution agreement with L’Amy America to market and distribute sunglasses and ophthalmic frames for the Champion brand across Canada. Champion is one of the fastest-growing sport brands in Canada.

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Thomas Burkhardt has joined Marchon Eyewear in the newly created position of senior vice president, Global Licensing & Marketing. Burkhardt was previously with Coty, Inc., where he had led the Calvin Klein Fragrance & Cosmetics business as vice president of Global Marketing since 2010.

Rudy Project announces that team member and athlete Johnny Vu has been promoted to director of Event Sales, North America. Prior to his promotion, Vu spent three years working on events for Rudy Project.

Shire has expanded its ophthalmics team with the appointments of Vic Noble as head of marketing and Debra Schaumberg, O.D., and Beth Schultz Scott, O.D., as global medical leads.

ABB Optical Group has promoted Bart Tessel to vice president of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives. He has been with ABB since 2009. ABB has also hired Melanie Miller as managing director of Strategic and National Accounts. Previously, Miller worked with Bausch + Lomb.

1. Thomas Burkhardt, Marchon; 2. Bart Tessel, ABB Optical Group; 3. Melanie Miller, ABB Optical Group

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Safilo announced a new three-year commitment to Special Olympics. The partnership dates to 2003 and has led to more than 1 million optical frames and sunglasses provided to athletes all over the world.

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CareCredit gave a $25,000 grant to the InfantSEE program of Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation for the fourth consecutive year.

The Eyecare Innovation Fund has been created to target investments in eyecare services and technologies. It is led by Alan Cleinman, CEO of Cleinman Performance Partners; Joel Zychick, Esq., of E-Vision; and mergers and acquisitions advisor Thomas Schinkel. Investors will be limited to members of the optical industry.

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